THE TNT KaTropa wrested the early lead in their best-of-seven Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup finals with the San Miguel Beermen, taking Game One, 104-102, last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Bucking an early breakaway by the Beermen, the KaTropa charged back and took the fight to their opponents and succeeded, with hurting import Joshua Smith taking the hero’s role, to move a step forward toward the title of the PBA’s midseason tournament.
TNT saw itself kept at bay in the first quarter by San Miguel as import Charles Rhodes exploded for 21 points to help his team claim the opening period, 31-24.
TNT, however, would explode in the second quarter, outscoring San Miguel, 17-9, in the first six minutes to overtake the latter, 41-40.
It then scored seven quick points after to extend its lead to eight points, 48-40, before San Miguel answered with a 4-0 run of its own to cut its deficit.
The two teams went back and forth as the period wore on but TNT would preserve an advantage of five points in the end, 56-51.
Jolted by the run that the KaTropa made in the second canto, the Beermen came out aggressive to start the third.
TNT, however, would withstand the onslaught of San Miguel, with baskets from RR Pogoy in the windup, to remain on top, 75-73, at the end of the third period.
But while they remained ahead, the quarter saw TNT import Smith aggravating his injured foot. He would return though in the payoff quarter.
The fourth period had the protagonists jostling on both ends of the court at the start.
TNT caught a break when San Miguel’s Rhodes was called for his fifth foul with nine minutes left in the game.
The KaTropa capitalized on it by running plays through Mr. Smith, creating opportunities not only for himself but his teammates as well.
TNT held an eight-point cushion, 88-80, at 8:17 mark before San Miguel went on an 18-10 run in the next six minutes to tie the knot at 98-all with 2:20 left on the clock.
A three-pointer from Jayson Castro gave TNT some breathing space, 102-99, with 44 ticks remaining.
San Miguel chipped a point off its deficit, 102-100, seven seconds later with a made free throw from Mr. Rhodes.
Mr. Pogoy had a chance to extend the KaTropa’s lead but his three-point attempt did not connect with 17 seconds remaining, setting the Beermen to tie the count at 102-all precisely with seven seconds to go off two free throws from Chris Ross.
TNT, though, would have the last say as Mr. Smith drain a short jab in the paint with 1.6 seconds to go which turned out to be the game-winning shot.
Mr. Pogoy led TNT with 27 points while Mr. Smith finished with 21 points and nine rebounds.
San Miguel, for its part, was led by Mr. Rhodes’ 31 points to go along with 13 boards.
“Game One of a finals series is very important, we always hear that and for us it is. We didn’t talk about it but we really wanted to win this. That we won without Ryan [Reyes] and Ranidel [De Ocampo] showed that the other players stepped up, like Pogoy, Mo Tautuaa and Troy Rosario, and it’s a welcome development for us,” said TNT coach Nash Racela after the win.
Game Two of the series is tomorrow also at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.