PBA: Titan Ultra shocks TNT for first win in Governors' Cup

Titan Ultra took down defending champion TNT with a convincing 103-87 win to end its slump in the PBA Season 50 Governors' Cup on Wednesday at the Ynares Center Antipolo.

The Giant Risers blew out the shorthanded Tropang 5G, who were missing several key pieces in Calvin Oftana, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Jayson Castro, Kelly Williams, and Poy Erram, to take their first win in four games.

Import Tirell Brown led the 16-point takedown after erupting for 29 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and three steals while Jerrick Balanza, Joshua Munzon, and Bryan Sajonia all poured in 13 markers to fuel the local support.

"'Yun lang, like what I said before the start of the game, chinallenge ko 'yung mga players to commit to defense because in our last three games, especially in our last game against NLEX, kumbaga talagang nagkaro'n kami ng masamang depensa," Titan Ultra head coach Rensy Bajar said.

"That's why after our loss against NLEX, tinrabaho talaga namin 'yung defense, 'yung transition defense at rebounding."

Titan Ultra's defense finally came through, holding an opponent below 100 points for the first time this conference. The offense then took care of the rest for the Giant Risers.

Titan Ultra unloaded 31 points in the second quarter while limiting TNT to just 17, carrying a slim 58-48 cushion into the second half. Brown then caught fire in the third after scoring seven straight points that gave Titan Ultra a 71-56 lead.

Sajonia knocked down two four-point shots, including one that stretched Titan Ultra's lead to 84-64 early in the fourth quarter, a deficit TNT Tropang 5G failed to erase.

The win allowed Titan Ultra to snap a 10-game losing streak dating back to the previous Commissioner's Cup as they improved to 1-3 in Group A while TNT fell to 1-1.

With a depleted roster, TNT leaned heavily on its reinforcement in Darius Days, who finished with 21 points, six rebounds, one steal, and a block. Kim Aurin and RR Pogoy chipped in 11 and 10 markers each.

Scores:

Titan Ultra 103 – Brown 29, Sajonia 13, Balanza 13, Munzon 13, Dionisio 10, Javillonar 9, Sumang 9, Yu 5, Ular 2, Ambohot 0, Pessumal 0, Omega 0, Amores 0, Caralipio 0, Cuntapay 0.

TNT 87 – Days 21, Aurin 11, Pogoy 10, Heading 9, Jalalon 8, Khobuntin 6, Galinato 6, Nambatac 5, Quitevis 5, Ferrer 2, Celzo 2, Hill 2, Enciso 0, Varilla 0.

Quarters: 27-31, 58-48, 80-64, 103-87.

—JKC, GMA News