Too hot: Pogoy breaks out as TNT turns back Meralco for 3rd straight win

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Roger Pogoy matches his scoring output in the last three games combined as TNT continues its resurgence in the PBA Philippine Cup with a beating of defending champion Meralco

MANILA, Philippines – When Roger Pogoy is blazing hot, not even one of the best defensive teams in the PBA can stop him.

Pogoy torched defending Philippine Cup champion Meralco with a season-high 34 points as TNT continued its resurgence following a 101-84 win at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Sunday, May 11.

Relatively quiet on the offensive end in the past games, Pogoy finally broke out and outscored the entire Bolts squad in the fourth quarter, erupting for 16 points in the period to help the Tropang Giga clinch their third straight victory.

“My focus has always been on defense. The offense will follow,” said the 32-year-old hotshot in Filipino. “I’m grateful and blessed that my shots fell.”

Pogoy played so well that he matched his scoring output in the last three games combined: 10 points in a win against Terrafirma, 14 points in a victory over San Miguel, and 10 points in a loss to Phoenix.

In fact, his 16 points in final frame would have sufficed for a new conference-high mark.

Still ahead 72-69 at the end of the third salvo, the Bolts helplessly watched Pogoy sink one big shot after another as the Cebuano guard went 5-of-6 from the field in the fourth quarter, including a perfect 3-of-3 from three-point land.

His three treys were all part of an 18-5 run that gave TNT an 87-77 cushion before Pogoy shook off Chris Newsome for the dagger four-pointer with just over a minute left to push their lead to 97-82.

“I needed to show the young players how to play the right way. I’m a veteran but I was a ball hog in our first three games,” said Pogoy, who shot an efficient 12-of-18 (67%) from the field.

“We’ve been doing things right and the results have been good — three wins.”

Calvin Oftana backstopped Pogoy with 28 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals as the Tropang Giga have not lost since an inauspicious 0-3 start to their Grand Slam bid.

Rey Nambatac produced 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists off the bench before leaving the game with under four minutes left due to a suspected groin injury, while Poy Erram added 10 points.

Cliff Hodge led Meralco in scoring with 23 points on top of 4 rebounds and 2 steals as usual suspects Chris Newsome and Bong Quinto got contained by TNT.

Newsome and Quinto, the heroes in a 105-104 win over NorthPort last Friday, May 9, that halted the Bolts’ three-game slide, were limited to 18 and 11 points, respectively.

Aaron Black and Raymond Almazan added 15 and 12 points, respectively, and combined for 15 rebounds in the defeat that dropped Meralco to 3-4.

The Scores

TNT 101 – Pogoy 34, Oftana 28, Nambatac 13, Erram 10, Khobuntin 6, Williams 6, Enciso 4, Heruela 0, Varilla 0, Aurin 0.

Meralco 84 – Hodge 23, Newsome 18, Black 15, Almazan 12, Quinto 11, Banchero 3, Cansino 2, Bates 0, Jose 0, Maguliano 0, Rios 0.

Quarters: 14-19, 45-40, 69-72, 101-84.

– Rappler.com