PBA: TNT holds off Converge for bounce-back win

TNT held off Converge, 110-103, to return to the win column in the PBA Philippine Cup on Saturday at the Chavit Coliseum in Ilocos Sur.

After trailing by 14, 61-47, early in the third period, Converge attempted a comeback and mounted a rally in the fourth quarter, trimming the deficit to 106-100 with 2:09 left in regulation. However, Rey Nambatac’s free throws off a Juan Gomez de Liaño foul, followed by a Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser basket, virtually sealed the victory—despite a late basket by Schonny Winston.

With the win, TNT improved to 2-1, bouncing back from a loss to Barangay Ginebra last Wednesday.

RR Pogoy led TNT with 27 points, five rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block, while Calvin Oftana added 18 points.

Justin Arana paced Converge with 19 points, while fellow big man Justine Baltazar contributed 17 points and 12 rebounds. Alec Stockton also had 19 points in the losing effort, as the FiberXers slipped to 1-1.

Scores:

TNT 110 – Pogoy 27, Oftana 18, Williams 14, Ganuelas-Rosser 14, Nambatac 10, Enciso 9, Ferrer 8, Galinato 8, Aurin 2, Jalalon 0, Khobuntin 0, Hill 0.

Converge 103 – Stockton 19, Arana 19, Balatazar 17, Winston 17, Gomez de Liano 14, Delos Santos 6, Racal 6, Caralipio 3, Javillonar 2, Garcia 0, Suerte 0, Santos 0.

Quarters: 22-18, 53-42, 82-72, 110-103.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News