TNT KaTropa still has a shot at a Top 2 finish.
After squandering a double-digit lead, the Tropang Texters were able to grind it out in crunch time to hold off pesky Rain or Shine, 105-102, and stay in good shape in the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City yesterday.
Joshua Smith led TNT with a solid double-double of 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Ranidel De Ocampo likewise had a splendid game, scoring 21 points of his own.
TNT KaTropa, which led for most part of the game, finished its campaign at 8-3 and still has an outside shot of ending up in the Top 2 depending on the results of the final games of the other top teams.
The loss was devastating for Rain or Shine as it could’ve sealed the No. 6 seed and avoided a dangerous situation.
Instead, the Painters ended up with a 5-6 card and will wait and see where they will finish after the dust settles.
Should they fall to either No. 7 or 8, they will face a twice-to-beat disdvantage in the quarters.
Rookie Roger Pogoy once again struck down the stretch, hitting the go-ahead jumper with 26.8 seconds remaining to put TNT KaTropa up, 103-101.
On the other end, Rain or Shine had multiple attempts but all of them went astray. Still, James Yap had a shot to tie it up but he only managed a split of his freebies with 5.2 seconds left, making the count 103-102 for TNT.
After getting fouled, De Ocampo sank two free throws to stretch TNT’s lead to three, 105-102 with 3.6 ticks left.
With one more shot left, the Painters planned on either goong to Yap or Jeff Chan but the latter threw up a wild potential-tying triple that went for naught.
The Texters led by double-digits for most of the way but the Painters rallied back in the fourth, making it anyone’s game in the final minutes.
Yap led the Painters with 23 points.
The ejection of import Duke Crews also hurt the Elasto Painters.
After commiting a flagrant foul 1 in the first half, Crews was then whistled for a technical foul midway in the third after using profane language in protesting a call, automatically throwing him out of the contest and leaving his team with a handicap the rest of the way.
Both teams are part of the wild chase for a spot in the Top 2 and the twice-to-beat incentive that goes along with them.
The victor will definitely have a good shot at finishing in the Top 2.