TNT KaTropa took to heart its five-point loss to Meralco the last time out and blasted Phoenix Petroleum, 134-109, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo Sunday night.
Jayson Castro, taking an extended rest in their game against the Bolts, finally plunged back into action and was among the Ka Tropa who churned out sterling effort in the handing the Fuel Masters another blowout loss.
Castro and his teammates pummeled the Fuel Masters badly in the middle quarters to open a 100-75 spread going into the final canto.
And the Ka Tropa just refused to get their feet off the pedal, dealing the Fuel Masters the 25-point defeat, four nights after Star crushed Phoenix, 101-82.
Phoenix is now at 1-2, its win coming at the expense of Blackwater with the help of then fill-in import Eugene Phelps.
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Jameel McKay had a solid showing but didn’t get the needed support from the Phoenix local crew against the Ka Tropa who were hard to stop with their torrid shooting.
All TNT starters – Castro, Lou Amundson, Ranidel de Ocampo, Ryan Reyes and RR Pogoy – and second stringers Troy Rosario, Moala Tautuaa and Kelly Williams came up with double-digit outputs.
The Ka Tropa finished with a conference-high output with Harvey Carey, Kris Rosales, Levi Hernandez and Larry Fonacier having their contributions.
Amundson delivered 20 points and eight rebounds in what could well be his farewell game in the local pro league. Donte Greene is likely to take over in TNT’s next game.
Castro came up with 10 points, seven assists and three rebounds and the Ka Tropa hit at a remarkable 55-percent shooting as TNT sat on a 59-48 cushion at halftime.
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McKay produced 15 points but Phoenix struggled with an 18-of-49 clip (36 percent) in the first 24 minutes of play.
The rout was on as Pogoy and De Ocampo rifled in three-pointers to start the second half.
TNT finished with 12 of 26 treys as against Phoenix’s six-of-26.
The Texters actually clobbered the Fuel Masters practically on all fronts.
