Hester Import Antonio Hester of Terrafirma drives strong to the basket in the PBA Governors’Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. PBA photo

Tropang Giga in big win

March 9, 2022 Robert Andaya 502 views

TALK N Text made it four wins in a row by blasting Terrafirma, 127-107, and secured a quarterfinals berth in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Import Aaron Fuller teamed-up with Jayson Castro, Kib Montalbo and Mikey Williams to power the Tropang Giga to their fourth straight win –all via double-digit margins — and a 6-4 win-loss record.

The Tropang Giga need only to beat red-hot NorthPort Batang Pier at 6 p.m. tomorrow (Friday) also at the Big Dome to claim the quarterfinal bonus as one of the top four finishers.

A loss, however, could likely put TNT out of the twice-to-beat considerations, depending on the result of another crucial match pitting Meralco and Phoenix Super LPG at 3 p.m.

“I hope we’re not yet peaking because there’s still a lot of things for us to work on in our game,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes in an interview posted at the PBA website.

“Our defense was terrible today, just horrible. The good thing is, there are still a couple more games and I know we’re in for a very, very tough battle on Friday against NorthPort. They’re the hottest team in the league now so that way we’re gonna be tested,” added Reyes.

The Batang Pier have won their last five assignments after a 0-5 start.

Fuller finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and three blocks in 36 minutes of action to lead the Tropang Giga.

Castro added 15 points, three rebounds, six assists and two steals while Montalbo contributed 12 points, four assists and three steals.

Williams had 16 points, four rebounds, six assists and two steals 8n 33 minutes.

Import Antonio Hester tallied 30 points and 13 rebounds for Terrafirma, which dropped its fifth straight game and finished the conference with a 2-9 record.

Ed Daquioag added 19 points and Joshua Munzon had 16 points despite a 4-of-13 shooting for the Dyip, who played minus Juami Tiongson due to a knee injury.

Tiongson, who averages 18 points a game, failed to suit up after spraining his right ankle during practice.

The scores:

TNT (127) –Fuller 24, M. Williams 16, Castro 15, Montalbo 12, Erram 12, Rosario 9, Pogoy 8, K. Williams 8, Reyes 7, Khobuntin 7, Ganuelas-Rosser 6, Marcelo 3, Alejandro 0, Banal 0.
Terrafirma (107) — Hester 30, Daquioag 19, Munzon 16, Calvo 9, Batiller 9, Cahilig 8, Go 5, Pascual 4, Ramos 4, Balagasay 3, Camson 0.
Quarterscores: 30-23, 61-53, 90-77, 127-107.

Games Friday:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
3 p.m. — Phoenix vs.Meralco
6 p.m. — NorthPort vs. Talk N Text

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