PBA: Titan Ultra averts collapse, escapes streaking Macau

Titan Ultra nearly wasted a huge lead before escaping with a 132-128 win against previously streaking Macau and barging back to the win column of the PBA Season 50 Governors' Cup on Tuesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

A dominant first-half performance allowed the Giant Risers to build a 66-37 lead — their largest of the game — before taking an 80-60 cushion into halftime.

They continued to dictate the tempo early in the fourth quarter with Ato Ular and import Tirrell Brown spearheading the attack even after being reduced by one man as big man Mark Omega had to be stretchered off the court after suffering an awkward fall early in the period.

But the Giant Pandas went on a fourth-quarter rampage with Jenning Leung hitting a four-point shot and import De'Vondre Perry hitting a layup to spark a 16-6 blast that cut their deficit to a single digit, 122-113.

Another jumper from Perry and a dunk off a steal and assist from Leung saw Macau further trimming the gap to seven, 128-121, with 2:45 left in the game.

Brown and Perry traded crucial baskets but the latter turned the ball over which the Titan Ultra import later turned into a long jumper that sent the Giant Risers to a 132-124 cushion with 12 ticks to go.

Brown led the way for Titan Ultra with 36 points alongside 10 rebounds, seven assists, and a steal while Joshua Munzon churned out 18 markers, six boards, and five dimes as Titan Ultra improved to 2-5 after back-to-back losses to Macau and San Miguel.

"We started strong, especially in the first quarter, then what happened to us, I think we relaxed a bit in the last minute of the second quarter, which is I know Macau will come back," Titan Ultra head coach Rensy Bajar said in a mix of English and Filipino.

"That's what I was telling them also in the huddle. The players just stuck together, especially since the second group was playing well."

Perry finished with a game-high 45 points on 59.3-percent shooting for Macau, but it was not enough in the loss.

The scores:

Titan Ultra 132 - Brown 36, Munzon 18, Sumang 14, Sajonia 13, Balanza 9, Ular 9, Dionisio 8, Yu 7, Omega 6, Javillonar 5, Pessumal 4, Wong 3.

Macau 128 - Perry 45, Cao 24, Chongqui 18, Ma 18, Lam 14, Leung 7, Lu 2, Chao 0.

Quarters: 47-29, 80-60, 108-93, 132-128.

—JMB, GMA News