TNT Tropang Giga’s offensive game remains a mystery that Magnolia couldn’t solve as the Tropang Giga beat the Hotshots, 108-96, in Game 1 of their best-of-seven semifinals series in the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Mikey Williams was at the firing end of TNT’s blazing offense as he nailed 18 of his 26 points—making four of eight attempts from beyond the three-point zone—in the first half.
Williams also grabbed five rebounds and issued four assists, while Roger Pogoy added 23 points and Glenn Khobuntin tallied 18 points and seven rebounds to highlight the Tropang Giga’s wire-to-wire victory.
“We just kind of jelled pretty well since day one and they are the guys or the veterans of this team that I look to,” said the 6-foot-2 Williams, who thanked his veteran teammates led by Jayson Castro and Pogoy. “They made the game a lot easier offensively and defensively.”
Castro posted 12 points along with five rebounds and five assists.
The Tropang Giga posted their biggest lead at 84-60 after Castro scored on a layup with 47 seconds left in the third period.
“We have to be versatile and flexible in any sense because we’re not the tallest team here,” TNT coach Chot Reyes said. “I’m very blessed to have players who can play in multiple positions.”
“We build our team really on versatility and agility,” Reyes added.
Calvin Abueva led Magnolia with 18 points and eight rebounds while Ian Sangalang, Jio Jalalon and Aris Dionisio made 14 points each.
Game 2 is set on Friday at 6 p.m.