TNT surges ahead 1-0 with rout of Meralco in quarterfinals

ONE WIN AWAY. Jayson Castro leads TNT, puts them a win away from the semifinals. Photo from PBA Images

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Jayson Castro sank 3 triples and finished with 25 points, 9 in the fourth, as the TNT KaTropa blew out the Meralco Bolts, 102-84, for a 1-0 lead in their best-of-3 quarterfinals during the 2017 PBA Commissioner's Cup on Monday, June 5 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Castro, who also tallied 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and two blocks, led the offensive surge for TNT in the second half.

The KaTropa created separation in the fourth, turning an 8-point lead to a 24-point cushion midway in the payoff period.

"Our focus really is on just doing the right things," head coach Nash Racela said when asked whether he was surprised by the rout. "Today I think we were successful in minimizing our mistakes."

Racela was happy with how his team never yielded momentum nor made many mistakes as they held on to the lead in the fourth quarter.

Import Joshua Smith, who did not start the game, registered 19 points, missing only one of his 9 field goals. Smith played only 18 minutes owing to having the flu.

Mo Tautuaa had 13 points and 8 rebounds to his name, while Kelly Williams came up with 10 markers and 7 boards.

TNT's bench overwhelmed Meralco, 52-17, with RR Garcia and Troy Rosario adding a combined 18 points to bolster the offense. That helped power the KaTropa despite their 21 turnovers that led to 18 points for the Bolts.

Meralco was also out-rebounded, 47-36, as its import Alex Stepheson had a lackluster showing of 9 points and 16 rebounds.

Chris Newsome led 5 players in double figures for Meralco with 21 markers, 12 coming in the fourth. Baser Amer added 14 points while Jared Dillinger had 12.

Reynel Hugnatan and Joseph Yeo contributed 11 and 10 markers, respectively, for the skidding Bolts, who have now lost 4 straight games since the eliminations.

TNT will try to close out sister team Meralco in Game 2 of this series on Wednesday, June 7.

Scores:

TNT (102): Castro 25, Smith 19, Tautuaa 13, Rosario 9, Garcia 9, Reyes 6, Semerad 5, Pogoy 4, Nuyles 2, De Ocampo 0, Rosales 0, Golla 0, Carey 0.

Meralco (84): Newsome 21, Amer 14, Dillinger 12, Hugnatan 11, Yeo 10, Stepheson 9, Caram 3, Hodge 2, Uyloan 2, Faundo 0, Nabong 0, Bono 0.

Quarter scores: 25-13, 42-27, 69-59, 102-84.

– Rappler.com