By JAY R. GOTERA
MANILA — The TNT KaTropang Texters razed a 17-point deficit in the third quarter before blowing past the Alaska Aces late in the final period to post a 119-110 victory in the 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup road game in Legazpi City Saturday night.
The Texters showed up with a new import in Joshua Smith, a 6’10” NBA D-League player from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers who replaced Donte Greene. Smith debuted in the PBA with team-highs of 23 points and 10 rebounds.
Players who saw action for Gilas in the 2017 SEABA Championship had little rest as they plunged back into action. The three Gilas players from TNT—Jayson Castro, RR Pogoy, and Troy Rosario—all contributed significant numbers in the victory.
TNT was still down, 95-101, with about eight minutes left in the fourth quarter when Castro spearheaded a devastating 24-9 run en route to victory.
Castro led TNT’s locals with 20 points on top of 5 rebounds and 5 assists, while Pogoy chipped in 12 markers, including a go-ahead 4-point play with 5:15 remaining that gave TNT a 107-105 lead.
The Texters improved to a 7-3 win-loss record with just one game left in their elimination round schedule.
Alaska suffered a fourth setback in eight games, skidding to solo seventh place in the standings.
Import Cory Jefferson led the Aces with 29 points, along with 7 boards.
Vic Manuel returned from sick bay to lead Alaska’s locals with 17 markers and 4 rebounds off the bench.
Calvin Abueva, also fresh from the SEABA joust, added 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting on top of 7 rebounds for Alaska.
Games Sunday: Mahindra Floodbuster (2-7) vs. Phoenix Fuel Masters (4-5) and San Miguel Beermen (6-1) vs. Barangay Ginebra Kings (5-2).
