TNT KaTropa's well-stocked arsenal just unveiled another potent weapon.
Michael Craig marked his league debut with a triple double powering the KaTropa to a 106-96 victory over Kia Friday in the PBA Governors Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Craig finished with 21 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists while the likes of Troy Rosario and Jayson Castro led the KaTropa who made the biggest contributions and helped spell their fine start in the season-ending tourney.
The way his charges took full control of the game in the second quarter, led by as many as 17 points and easily shook off Kia's protracted uprisings clearly pleased TNT coach Nash Racela.
"We didn't really know what to expect going to this game," said Racela, whose team took a break after the Commissioner's Cup finals against San Miguel Beer and returned to practice only two Mondays ago.
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"We prioritized rest. We thought they needed that," added Racela. "But we never had any tune-up game, so I really didn't know what to expect today."
Craig, already in town as early as late last month, eased most of Racela's concerns despite being not yet in ideal playing condition, as evidenced by his nine turnovers.
"He's still not in his playing weight, but he's working out, swimming, things like that," related Racela. "He's working his way up."
Markeith Cummings bucked foul trouble to finish with 27 points and six rebounds, but committed 10 turnovers of his own.
Only Reden Celda was the other Kia player in double figures with 14 although Philip Paniamogan, LA Revilla and Nico Salva added eight apiece.
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With Rosario chipping in 18 points, Castro 16 and Kelly Williams 11, TNT's dominance in firepower simply proved too much.
Even Moala Tautuaa shone in the fourth period with all of his seven points. He also found Rosario underneath, resulting in a three-point play that gave the KaTropa a 105-94 lead and all but settled the issue, only 69 ticks left.
