PBA: Now or never for Meralco and TNT KaTropa

By Jonas Terrado

Game Monday
(Ynares Center, Antipolo City)
7 p.m. — Meralco vs TNT KaTropa
(Series tied 2-2)

The team with the best production from its local players will likely get to face Barangay Ginebra San Miguel for the title as TNT KaTropa and Meralco go at it one final time in Game 5 of their PBA Governors’ Cup semifinal series at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

With Allen Durham of Meralco and KJ McDaniels of TNT likely to provide the numbers expected from imports, the likes of Baser Amer and Chris Newsome of the Bolts and Roger Pogoy, Troy Rosario and Jayson Castro, to name a few, will be crucial in the do-or-die affair set at 7 p.m.

“So far this series has been a game of adjustments, and obviously TNT won the first game so they’ve been a little bit ahead as far as that concerned,” said Meralco coach Norman Black after Saturday’s 95-83 victory in Game 4.

“Now we just have to figure out what to do in Game 5 and how we can adjust to make sure we can get a victory,” added Black, whose Bolts are eyeing a third Finals appearance in the last four editions of the season-ending tournament.

It will be a given that Durham and McDaniels will come out and provide the chunk of production for their teams.

Durham has been a menace for the Bolts since the start of the series, averaging 36.0 points, 18.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists while McDaniels produced 33.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.3 blocks despite dealing with some offensive struggles.

Amer and Newsome are the Bolts most consistent locals. Amer bucked an anemic Game 1 to raise his series averages to 15.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 steals and Newsome 13.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists.

But the Bolts have also provided small but vital contributions from other locals, namely rookie Bong Quinto, Cliff Hodge and John Pinto.

Quinto had seven points, four rebounds and two steals in Game 4, Hodge bounced back from being a culprit in a late blunder in Game 3 to tally four points and seven rebounds and Pinto made all four points during Meralco’s second quarter comeback the last time.

Raymond Almazan, struggling throughout the semis, made up for his three turnovers at the start to finished with eight points and six rebounds.

On the TNT side, Rosario put up 15.0 points and 4.0 rebounds but Pogoy and Castro have been on and off in the series.

Saved for his scoreless showing in Game 2, Pogoy has produced double-figure in points but is shooting 35 percent from the field while Castro only made 27 percent from the field despite averages of 13.8 points.

Rookie Ray Parks has quietly provided contributions on both ends for coach Bong Ravena and active consultant Mark Dickel with 11.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals.

Source: Manila Bulletin