ULTIMATE giant killers.
That’s what Mahindra is as it slayed its biggest victim so far, taking down erstwhile unbeaten TNT KaTropa, 107-104, to gain solo second place in the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night.
James White, one of the league’s top imports, continued to impress, producing his usual numbers with team-high 24 points, on 53 percent shooting from the field and on a perfect 10-of-10 sniping from the foul line, plus 10 rebounds.
The Enforcers got ample production from their locals as four players off the bench scored in twin-digits, led by Paolo Taha with 15, Nino Canaleta with 13, LA Revilla, 12 and Michael DiGregorio, 11.
The impressive Enforcers are now back in solo second place with an enhanced 6-2 record following this second straight victory.
On the other hand, the Tropang Texters suffered their first lost as they slipped to 6-1, but remained at the top. These two teams are now separated by only half-a-game.
“It was a nerve-wrecking game. I told the players that it will take no less than a championship effort for us to win,” said thrilled Mahindra deputy coach Chris Gavina. “This is definitely a new ground for us and we’re happy. We made franchise history by reaching six wins.”
As the two teams have six wins already, they both just need an additional win to formally enter the quarterfinals.
The systematic Enforcers started dictating the tempo and controlling the game by the end of the first half.
Behind White’s brilliance on both ends, Mahindra blasted TNT KaTropa with a swift 10-0 run to give itself a double-digit lead, 51-41, in the closing seconds of the second period, but Ryan Reyes hit a buzzer-beating triple to end the first half to make the count 51-44 at intermission.
Jayson Castro led all scorers with a game-high 33 points for TNT in a losing cause.
After exploding for his PBA career-high of 30 points the last time out, TNT Asian import Michael Madanly was limited by Mahindra to only two points.
Meanwhile, action continues today as the league goes out of town for the second straight week, this time in Legazpi City.
Rain or Shine (3-3) and GlobalPort (2-4), which is currently on a two-game winning streak, figure in a pivotal showdown at 5 p.m.
The scores:
MAHINDRA 107 – White 24, Taha 15, Canaleta 13, Revilla 12, Digregorio 11, Guinto 9, Bagatsing 8, Agovida 4, Jaime 4, Ramos 4, Yee 3, Ballesteros 0, Elorde 0.
TNT KATROPA 104 – Castro 33, Ammons 20, Fonacier 13, Rosario 11, De Ocampo 9, Rosales 5, Williams 4, Reyes 3, Tautuaa 3, Madanly 2, Carey 1, Rosser 0.
Quarters: 19-23, 51-44, 78-72, 107-104
Game Today (Legazpi City)
5 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs. GlobalPort