TNT punches ticket to quarterfinals with win over Terrafirma

MANILA, Philippines – The TNT Tropang Giga are formally through to the quarterfinals of the PBA Governors’ Cup after a 127-107 win over the Terrafirma Dyip at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.

With their fourth win in a row, the Tropang Giga improved to 6-4 to with one game left in the conference.

The Tropang Giga fended off a pesky Dyip side that played their final game of the conference to finish with a 2-9 slate.

The Dyip were within striking distance before halftime but shot themselves in the foot as Joshua Munzon fouled Jayson Castro late on a half-court heave as the clock expired in the second salvo.

Castro ended up making all three free throws to extend their lead to eight, 61-53, and repulse any momentum for the Dyip.

TNT picked up the pace on offense in the third period where they led by as much as 19 points.

Though the Dyip were within 13, 77-90, at the beginning of the fourth salvo, TNT were able to stymie the spoiler seeking Dyip to hold on for the win.

Aaron Fuller paced four TNT players in double-digit scoring with a double-double outing of 24 points and 12 rebounds.

Kib Montalbo and Mikey Williams played supporting role in the starting lineup with 12 and 16 points, respectively.

TNT was also able to lean on scoring outputs from the bench with Jayson Castro and Poy Erram leading the pack with 15 and 12 markers.

The KaTropa will play their final game of eliminations on Friday, March 11, against the Northport Batang Pier.

They look to clinch a twice-to-beat advantage heading into the playoffs with a win against Northport and a loss for the Meralco Bolts in the earlier game of Friday's double-header.

The Bolts face off with the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters.