Pogoy loads up for 45, boosts Tropang Giga's 1st W in PBA restart

RR Pogoy scored a career-high 45 points to help the TNT Tropang Giga get past the Alaska Aces in the resumption of PBA Philippine Cup. PBA Images

By Gil Mar Moriones

MANILA - Roger Pogoy was red hot on Sunday night as he helped the revamped TNT Tropang Giga get their first win in the PBA season at the expense of the Alaska Aces, 100-95, in the league's restart at the Angeles University Foundation Gym.

Pogoy registered a career-high 45 points on 58 percent field goal percentage, majority of which came from the trifecta as he scored 10 triples.

The Gilas veteran started the final quarter by burying a long bomb to give the yellow shirts the lead, 74-72.

He later threw another one from way downtown to extend their advantage to five, 87-82 with 7:42 remaining.

The comeback from 17 points down in the second quarter was sealed after Tropang Giga's team captain Jayson Castro took advantage of the mismatch against Mike Digregorio for the layup with give TNT the three-point lead, 98-95, with 27.9 seconds left.

Ryan Reyes, who gave the lead for the TNT with two free throws with 1:07 left, did well in the defensive end after he forced Jvee Casio to a turnover in the next play.

Castro scored 28 points with two assists and three steals for the Tropang Giga.

Abu Tratter led the Aces after he tallied 17 points with seven conversions on the field especially inside the paint but only sank three bonuses out of eight from the line.

Vic Manuel muscled his presence in the paint scoring 15 points with five crashed boards while both Digregorio and Herndon scored 16 for the Aces. 

TNT will face Terra Firma on Tuesday, while the Aces will be battling out against the Meralco Bolts on Wednesday.

Box Scores:

TNT TROPANG GIGA 100 - Pogoy 45, Castro 28, Rosario 9, De Leon 4, Semerad 4, Erram 4, Enciso 2, Carrie 2, Reyes 2, Vosotros 0, Flores 0.

ALASKA ACES 95 - Tratter 17, Digregorio 16, Herndon 16, Manuel 15, Racal 8, Marcelino 5, Brondial 5, Ebona 4, Teng 3, Galliguez 2, Ayaay 2, Casio 2.

Quarters: 15-30, 48-48, 71-72, 100-95

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