TNT topples Terrafirma

Game today:

(Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center)

7:30 p.m. — Converge vs Barangay Ginebra

TNT rolled to a second straight win after blowing out slumping Terrafirma, 110-74, in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup Friday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

A 31-18 first quarter blitz set the tone for the grand slam-seeking Tropang 5G’s cakewalk wire-to-wire victory to improve to a 2-3 win-loss mark.

Calvin Oftana led TNT’s assault with 22 points, JP Erram had 19 points while Rey Nambatac and Kim Aurin added 12 and 11 points, respectively.

“Our objective coming into this ballgame was just to make sure we beat Terrafirma with our effort and our energy. We all know it has been a while since we won against this team. We don’t have a really good record against this team, so we wanted to make sure it doesn’t happen this time,” head coach Chot Reyes said after TNT scored its first win over the Dyip this season.

“Our starters got us off to a really good start with their defensive effort, and that permeated throughout the ballgame.”

Up by 16 at halftime, the Tropang 5G put the game away with a searing 37-17 third quarter outing for an 88-52 advantage heading into the payoff period.

It was all over but the shouting when Calvin Payawal sank a triple for a 102-56 gap with 6:57 left in the lopsided game.

Terrafirma fell to a fifth defeat in a row that sent Louie Sangalang’s double-double of 16 points and career-best 16 rebounds down the drain.

Meanwhile, Converge shoots for a fourth straight win against rebound-seeking Barangay Ginebra Saturday at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in Pampanga.

The streaking FiberXers are out to improve their 4-2 slate while the Kings (2-2) try to regain their winning ways in the match slated at 7:30 p.m.