By REYNALD MAGALLON
TNT bucked a slow start and then banked on the three-way assault from Poy Erram, RR Pogoy and Calvin Oftana to take down Rain or Shine, 111-103 in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, Wednesday, May 21.
Pogoy dropped a second-straight 30-point showing while Erram posted a career-best scoring as the Tropang 5G clawed back from an early 14-point hole before seizing control in the third frame to catch the Elasto Painters on similar 4-3 records in the standings.
Pogoy, Erram and Oftana actually all scored in double-figures in the pivotal third quarter explosion, combining for 32 of the team’s 33 points.
After erupting for 34 in TNT’s 101-84 win over Meralco last game, Pogoy’s hands hardly cooled down and still fired 35 points – 19 of which he poured in the second half.
Erram provided support with career-high 31 points, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks in just 21 minutes of play while Oftana, after a slow start, also caught fire in the second half to finish with 28.
On a high after handing Magnolia its first taste of defeat last game, Rain or Shine came out waxing hot erecting a 31-17 lead late in the opening frame.
Just when the Elasto Painters were looking to break the game wide open though, the Tropang 5G tightened up their defensive screws, limiting ROS to just 14 points in the second quarter to get back into the game.
Meanwhile, Meralco broke out of its slump even with the absence of veteran forward Cliff Hodge, taking down struggling Blackwater, 103-85.
Chris Newsome led the charge for the Bolts who dominated the Bossing from start to finish, even erecting a lead as high as 22-points en route to the much-needed victory that snapped the team’s two-game losing slide.
Newsome fired 19 points, seven rebounds to go with three steals but also got ample support with CJ Cansino adding 14 in quality minutes off the bench.
Chris Banchero added 13 while Toto Jose and Brandon Bates held the fort in Hodge’s absence in the paint with 12 and 10, respectively. Bates even stepped up defensively adding seven rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
Hodge missed the contest after being slapped with a one-game suspension after his dangerous take down to Magnolia big man Zav Lucero in the Bolts last time out.
