TNT, Blackwater tally first wins in PBA Commissioner’s Cup

Sports

THE defending champions TNT Tropang 5G and Blackwater Bossing downed separate opponents to make it to the win column in the 50th PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday night, March 22, at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.

The Tropa needed a strong endgame kick to defeat the NLEX Road Warriors, 103-97, while the Bossing drew a solid game from their debuting import to nip the listless Magnolia Hotshots, 97-91.

Towering import Bol Bol produced 40 points, 15 rebounds, two blocks and an assist to lead the Tropa, who bounced back from a shock 109-112 loss to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters while ending the Road Warriors’ unbeaten start.

The Road Warriors fell to 2-1 (win-loss) as they stumbled after starting the tournament with wins over Blackwater (84–81) and Magnolia (112–105).

TNT’s locals were also impressive with Jordan Heading finishing with 15 points, four assists, four steals and two rebounds, Calvin Oftana tallying 14 markers and four boards and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser chipping in 14 points and four rebounds.

Cady Lalanne finished with 25 points and 21 rebounds to spearhead NLEX, which failed to protect a 72-66 lead with only one quarter left to play.

Blackwater, on the other hand, leaned on Sedrick Barefield and new import Robert Upshaw to snap a two-game slide to improve to 1-2.

Upshaw, who replaced the injured Daniel Ochefu, piled up 35 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and three blocks while Barefield fired 26 points anchored on six triples.

Upshaw and Barefield proved too much for the Hotshots, who stayed ice-cold and suffered their third defeat in as many games.

THE SCORES:

FIRST GAME

BLACKWATER (97) – Upshaw 35, Barefield 26, Murrell 9, Tratter 8, David 7, Ilagan 4, Escoto 4, Mendoza 2, Una 2, Andrade 0, Jopia 0.

MAGNOLIA (91) – Omot 38, Lucero 15, Sangalang 12, Gomez de Liano 6, Lastimosa 5, DeLa Rosa 5, Laput 4, Barroca 4, Koon 2, Andrada 0, Escoto 0, Lee 0.

QUARTERSCORES: 20-24; 36-42; 67-72; 97-91.

SECOND GAME

TNT (103) - Bol 40, Heading 15, Rosser 14, Oftana 14, Nambatac 6, Castro 5, Ferrer 3, Jalalon 2, Nieto 2, Chua 2, Enciso 0, Galinato 0

NLEX (97) - Lalanne 25, Bolick 21, Winston 18, Semerad 18, Alas 5, Gonzales 3, Rodger 3, Torres 2, Racal 2, Fajardo 0, Bahio 0, Herndon 0.

QUARTERSCORES: 21-21, 43-45, 66-72, 103-97.(CCM)