THE TNT KaTropa sent a message loud and clear.
The Tropang Texters brought their A-game to easily dispatch Meralco, 102-94, for a 1-0 lead in Game 1 of their best-of-three quarterfinal series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.
Jayson Castro was in playoff mode right away, scoring a game-high 25 points, while hauling six rebounds and handing seven assists to spearhead the Tropang Texters.
After a lackluster first half, Joshua Smith came out aggressive in the second half to help Castro, scoring 15 of his 19 points while shooting a high 8-of-9 clip from the floor.
Game 2 will be tomorrow and the TNT KaTropa will have the chance to close it out and move to the semifinals.
“It’s good to be able to get the first win. We have to keep working hard to get that other game we need,” said TNT KaTropa coach Nash Racela.
The Tropang Texters dominated the first half right away with their suffocating defense, limiting the Bolts to just 27 points, while scoring 42 to carve a 15-point advantage at the turn.
There was no let down from there as they cruised the rest of the way and even built a lead of 24 points, 93-69, with five minutes left.
Meanwhile, the two other quarterfinal series start today.
Top seeds Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer are both eyeing entry to the semifinals as they battle separate foes with twice-to-beat incentives on hand.
The top-seeded Gin Kings will play eighth-ranked GlobalPort at 7 p.m., while the No. 2 Beermen will be tested by No. 7 Phoenix at 4:15 p.m. in the opening game.
A win for Ginebra and San Miguel will send them to the semis right away while the Batang Pier and the Fuel Masters are hoping to force a knockout game.
The scores:
TNT 102 – Castro 25, Smith 19, Tautuaa 13, Rosario 9, Garcia 9, Reyes 6, Semerad 5, Pogoy 4, Nuyles 2, De Ocampo 0, Rosales 0, Golla 0, Carey 0.
MERALCO 84 – Newsome 21, Amer 14, Dillinger 12, Hugnatan 11, Yeo 10, Stepheson 9, Caram 3, Hodge 2, Uyloan 2, Faundo 0, Nabong 0, Bono 0.
Quarterscores: 25-13, 42-27, 69-59, 102-84.
