MANILA, Philippines – TNT arrested its two-game skid even without import Joshua Smith playing down the stretch as the KaTropa hacked out a 91-85 triumph over Meralco in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Araneta Coliseum on Friday, June 22. 

Troy Rosario waxed hot and put up 30 points on an ultra-efficient 12-of-19 shooting to go with 12 rebounds as the KaTropa survived sans Smith, who did not play in the final 18 minutes after getting hit in the nose midway through the 3rd quarter. 

TNT, which gained a share of the 3rd place with the Bolts after improving to 7-3, headed into the 4th period with a 65-59 lead and continued to hold the upper hand as its advantage swelled to as large as 15 points, 84-69, off a Jericho Cruz trey.

The Bolts tried to mount a last-ditch effort by trimming their deficit to just 6 points off back-to-back Anjo Caram buckets, 85-91, with 25 seconds left but to no avail. 

Jayson Castro backstopped Rosario with 20 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, Cruz had 11 markers while Kelly Williams made his presence felt for the KaTropa with 10 boards and two blocks. 

“Just happy with the way we played especially when Joshua got hurt in the 3rd quarter,” said TNT head coach Nash Racela. 

Chris Newsome paced Meralco, which saw its 4-game winning streak come to a halt, with 17 points and 8 rebounds while Jared Dillinger and Baser Amer chipped in 12 points apiece. 

Hobbled by foul trouble, Meralco import Arinze Onuaku was limited to 8 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. Cliff Hodge and Ranidel de Ocampo had 11 points apiece in the loss.

The Scores:

TNT (91): Rosario 30, Castro 20, Cruz 11, Pogoy 7, Romeo 6, Smith 6, Trollano 4, Semerad 3, Taha 2, Williams 2, Carey 0, Garcia 0, Paredes 0, Reyes 0

Meralco (85): Newsome 17, Amer 12, Dillinger 12, De Ocampo 11, Hodge 11, Onuaku 8, Baracael 2, Canaleta 2, Hugnatan 0, Lanete 0

Quarter scores: 21-16, 36-38, 65-59, 91-85

– Rappler.com