Ranidel de Ocampo and Larry Fonacier made huge plays at crunch time as TNT KaTropa pulled off a 122-120 win over Globalport to boost its bid for the No. 1 spot in the playoffs of the PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Atoning for a passing error that enabled Globalport’s Stanley Pringle to tie the count at 120-all, De Ocampo, a many-time Gilas member, buried a long two with barely 5.7 ticks left.
That proved to be the winning basket as Globalport wasted an opportunity to send the game into overtime when Pringle committed a passing error.
Aside from contributing 14 points, Fonacier’s hustle helped TNT weather Globalport’s spirited comeback.
He grabbed the rebound off a missed three-point shot by Jason Castro before wisely throwing the ball on the leg of Jay Washington as he was about to lose it to the baseline with still 12 seconds remaining.
TNT mentor Jong Uichico then called for a time out, plotting a play for Castro, who elected to pass the ball to an open De Ocampo instead of going strong to the basket.
With a 7-1 record, TNT stayed on course to clinching the No. 1 seeding in the next round where it will face the No. 8 team.
Scores:
TNT KATROPA 122 – Castro 37, De Ocampo 17, Fonacier 14, R. Reyes 11, Madanly 10, Williams 8, Ammons 7, Rosales 7, Tautuaa 6, Rosario 5, Carey 0, Rosser 0.
GLOBALPORT 120 – Glover 38, Romeo 33, Pringle 25, Washington 9, Taha 5, Salvacion 3, Semerad 3, Dehesa 2, Yeo 2, Mamaril 0.
Quarters: 35-18; 70-52; 96-86; 122-120
