TNT KaTropa exploded for 45 points in its opening salvo to gain the needed leverage early and pick apart NLEX, 117-106, for its third straight win in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Sunday night.
Joshua Smith had a bigger game this time, scoring 24 points while Anthony Semerad had his best game of the season, scoring a season-high 22 points on six triples as the two led the way for the surging Texters.
The Tropang Texters improved to 6-1 and regained a piece of leadership with Rain or Shine. More importantly, they moved even closer to securing a berth in the quarterfinals.
TNT KaTropa came out swinging hard right off the bat, instantly opening the game up with a huge 40-26 advantage after the first 10 minutes of action. Though NLEX continued to stay in the game, TNT managed to carry a 89-82 lead, into the fourth period.
Meanwhile, Jeron Teng of Alaska and Norbert Torres of Rain or Shine were stabbed early morning yesterday after a carpark melee in Bonifacio Global City.
The former La Salle teammates, along with another former Archer Thomas Torres, were stabbed by three men, identified by Taguig Police Precinct 7 as Edmar Manalo, 40; Joseph Varona, 33, and Willard Basili, 36.
As of this report, the three cagers were already out of danger and are currently recovering at St. Luke’s hospital in BGC.
The incident, which happened past 2 a.m., occurred outside a bar where the three partied for the night.