TNT def Brgy. Ginebra, 106-92 [Season 47 PH Cup | July 10, 2022]

The TNT Tropang Giga stopped Barangay Ginebra’s perfect run under coaching sub Richard del Rosario and gave their own mentor a triumphant ride ahead of his FIBA Asia Cup journey, pulling off a dominant 106-92 win Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

RR Pogoy churned out his biggest game in a long and Glen Khobuntin put in a big help off the bench as TNT bounced back strong from their 115-99 blowout by San Miguel Beer Thursday and booked an 8-3 win-loss closing mark in the PBA Philippine Cup single-round-robin elims.

With coach Reyes serving duty with Gilas Pilipinas in the Asian meet in Jakarta in the next few days, the Tropang Giga play a waiting game here – curious spectators in the eight more remaining double-headers in the elims schedule.

The goal is still to salvage a Top Two finish. But at the moment, they’re behind San Miguel Beer (8-1) and Ginebra (6-2) with Blackwater also lurking at 5-2.

“We’re going for 9-2 but we fell short by one win. We have to be ready for the best-of-three if we don’t make the Top Two,” said the TNT coach.

Playing their last game ahead of a 12-day breather, Pogoy and his teammates poured it all and refused to slow down until the end, in chase of good point differential in case of a tie.

“We’re beaten by San Miguel by 15, and we wanted to go over 15 points as well. We could’ve stopped playing, but the format is such that every point counts,” Reyes added.