New TNT KaTropa import Joshua Smith picked up two quick fouls and had to sit out majority of the first half of this Petron Blaze Saturday Special at the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation in Legazpi, Albay.
But help came from many sources as the Tropang Texters extricated themselves from a tight situation and fended off the Alaska Milk Aces, 119-110, to close in on the leaders in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round.
TNT had looked dead in the water as the Aces stormed to a 17-point spread right in the first quarter with Smith nursing two fouls incurred in the first 70 seconds of the ball game.
The Texters, however, fought back into the game in the second quarter and hung on before going for the kill at endgame.
Smith went on to finish the game and collected 23 points and 10 rebounds, helping the Texters chalk up a seventh win against three losses.
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Jayson Castro, Roger Pogoy and Troy Rosario, fresh from their Gilas’ stints in the SEABA Championship, provided big push along with Ranidel de Ocampo and RR Garcia.
Another debuting TNT player Anthony Semerad also played a key role, matching up well with collegiate rival Calvin Abueva.
Castro produced 20 points, seven assists and five rebounds, De Ocampo churned out 15 markers, six boards and three dole-outs while Garcia rifled in four treys and finished with a total of 13 points.
Smith, Castro, De Ocampo, Pogoy and Semerad formed the TNT five that crushed Alaska, 18-5, in the last six minutes of the game.
The Aces, in control most of the way, wavered in the crunch and suffered a fourth straight loss after four consecutive wins over GlobalPort, Blackwater, Mahindra and Rain or Shine.
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As Smith returned to the floor in the second quarter, the Texters waged a chase and pulled ahead at 56-55 on a three-pointer by Rosario shortly before the halftime break.
With Smith confined on the bench, Garcia, Castro and Moala Tautuaa carried the cudgels for the beleaguered TNT squad.
The Aces pounced on Smith’s absence on the floor as they established a huge 17-point spread at 36-19 in the opening quarter.
After losing that lead, the Aces regained a double-digit margin in the third.
But the Texters won’t stop fighting.
