TNT secures quarterfinals berth

SMART CLARK GIGA CITY, Pampanga, Philippines — The PBA bubble is back after a short break and so is the TNT mean machine.

Awakened by their shocking loss to NLEX last time, the Tropang Giga came out with a lot more fire and quickly returned to their winning ways via a 112-87 mangling of NorthPort yesterday.

The Tropang Giga unleashed a telling 16-2 salvo in the last 4:18 of the opening quarter to set the tone for the bounceback rout in the game that served as the third offering in the PBA’s first quadrupleheader day.

The pro league resumed hostilities after a four-day “timeout” to strengthen its health protocols and sent eight squads back to action at the AUF Sports Arena Powered by Smart 5G.

TNT immediately buckled down to work and roared to a 6-1 card, thus securing a quarterfinals seat in the all-Filipino bubble.

Defending champion San Miguel and Phoenix Super LPG also took care of business and picked up their fifth victories versus separate foes.

The Beermen beat the morning blues and scraped past Blackwater in overtime, 90-88, for their fourth straight victory and 5-2 overall. The Fuel Masters clobbered Terrafirma (0-6) in their after-lunch matchup, 116-94, to go 5-3.

Ray Parks turned in 22 points, 10 rebounds as RR Pogoy (15) and Troy Rosario (14-10) also contributed as TNT atoned for its 98-109 setback to NLEX just before play was temporarily halted last Friday.

“Today was just a great response by the team coming off that tough loss,” said Parks, whose team led the Sean Anthony-less NorthPort (1-5) by as many as 36 at 86-50 in the bounceback.

“We picked up the pieces and it’s a testament to the character of the team. We’re slowly growing together. We got a mixture of veterans who are leading and guys who are taking up the call,” he added.

Earlier, Chris Ross dropped five of his eight in a 6-0 exchange in the last 2:05 of extra time as slow-starting SMB sealed the escape act in the rare 10 a.m. battle.

Mo Tautuaa topscored with 26 markers and 14 boards in 45 minutes with Marcio Lassiter (12), Alex Cabagnot (11) and Von Pessumal (10) backing him up.

“It’s an ugly win but we’ll take it,” said SMB coach Leo Austria, who heaved a sigh of relief when Mike Tolomia missed his potential marginal trey at the buzzer.

“It’s really hard to play a morning game, the players’ body clock hasn’t adjusted yet. So we’re fortunate we’re able to win this game and that Hail Mary shot of Tolomia didn’t go in, ”he added.

The Elite, who played without Mac Belo (back spasm), fell to 2-4, their skid stretched to three dating back to their last game 12 days ago.

Matthew Wright, the bubble’s top gunner, rifled in 33 spiked by six treys and Calvin Abueva delivered a triple double performance (12-10-10) as the Fuel Masters got back on track and closed in on the quarters.

RJ Jazul (16), Jason Perkins (14), Bryan Heruela (14), and Justin Chua (10) joined the scoring parade.

“We always talked about being the best version of ourselves, so having all those guys buy into those words mean so much to us as a program, as a company, as a culture,” said Phoenix coach Topex Robinson, who lauded his wards’ 33 assists.