AFTER shaking off a slow start, TNT KaTropa established its game when it mattered to give erstwhile league-leader Blackwater a reality check.
The Tropang Texters dealt the Elite its first taste of defeat, 99-92, while winning their second game in the process in the 2016-17 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Moala Tautuaa was solid in the middle, scoring 20 points, 15 in the first half, wherein he carried most of the load for Talk ‘N Text.
In his first game this season after sitting out the first two to rest, Jayson Castro returned steadily, also scoring 20 markers for more firepower for the Tropang Texters.
As a result, the two teams are now tied at 2-1 in the standings for second place.
TNT KaTropa had a sluggish start, trailing by nine, 21-30, after the first canto, but it quickly dug itself out of trouble, winning the second quarter big, 29-16, to snatch the lead, 50-46, at the half.
The Tropang Texters then built on that and expanded their advantage through three quarters, 76-67.
In the fourth, the knockout punch was delivered as TNT KaTropa created more separation, establishing double-digit leads early in the period before holding off Blackwater, which had a last-ditch effort in the closing minutes bet still fell short.
New TNT KaTropa head coach Nash Racela officially made his coaching debut for his squad in the PBA after missing the team’s first two games as he finished his obligations first with Far Eastern University in the UAAP.
Fortunately for him, he emerged victorious this time around, contrary to his fate with the Tamaraws just last Wednesday when they got booted out by Ateneo De Manila in the UAAP.
“We didn’t start out the way we wanted to and we were only able to adjust when Coach Nash (Racela) got mad. We’re still happy the boys responded,” said TNT deputy coach Josh Reyes, who handled the team in its first two games before Racela became available.
Rookie sensation Mac Belo continued to shine with a game-high 21 points and nine rebounds but this time, his team didn’t taste victory for the first time this conference.