Tropang Giga, grab head start

SMART CLARK GIGA CITY , Philippines — Jayson Castro delivered the coup de grace as TNT Tropang Giga turned back a Phoenix Super LPG side that proved tough even without gunner Matthew Wright, 95-92, for a 1-0 head start in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series yesterday.

Castro took over when it mattered most, knocking a booming trey, a huge putback and two cold-blooded free throws that spelled the difference in the semis-opening win at the AUF Sports Arena Powered by Smart 5G.

The veteran TNT guard shot 12 in the closeout as he posted a team-high 20 points plus six rebounds, six assists and two steals and a lot of intangibles as TNT dug deep to finish off the resilient Fuel Masters.

“Jayson really stepped up. We really needed his leadership, his decision-making and we’re fortunate he made those very important baskets,” said TNT coach Bong Ravena, whose wards will shoot for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series tomorrow.

The Tropang Giga got one less headache to deal with in Game One as Wright, the bubble MVP stats race frontrunner, was forced out of action by a sprained ankle he sustained halfway through the first canto.

Wright twisted his foot as he landed on Troy Rosario after making his lone basket, and called it a night after only six minutes and 42 seconds on the floor.

Phoenix also soldiered on without Calvin Abueva most of the way as the do-it-all forward got three early fouls and played the stretch with five.

“We know they’re not going to give up. They will stay in the game with their energy so it was important for us to match while maintaining our defense,” said Ravena.

Later, Barangay Ginebra reasserted its mastery over the Meralco Bolts, 96-79.

The Gin Kings broke free from a close contest with an 11-2 salvo to end the second ahead by 12, and sustained the charge as they went one-up against Meralco.

Stanley Pringle, anchor of the Ginebra breakaway, churned in 19-7-2 and towed five others in double figures in the 17-point romp.

Allein Maliksi shot a perfect five-for-five from deep in a 24-point explosion for the Bolts, who just couldn’t summon the fiery form from their clinical two-game drubbing of five-peat champ San Miguel in the quarters.