By JAY R. GOTERA
MANILA — The TNT KaTropa Texters grabbed the last ticket to the semifinals, finally pulling the plug on the Meralco Bolts, 104-96, in the second straight overtime thriller of their PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals series.
The Bolts earlier forced a quarterfinals rubber match after outlasting the Texters in overtime, 103-100, in Game 2 of their series Wednesday.
The fourth-seeded Texters thus arranged a best-of-5 semifinal series against the top-seeded Barangay Ginebra Kings, with Game 1 set Sunday night.
TNT lost a double-digit lead and had to fight for dear life in the fourth quarter as Meralco threatened to reprise their Game 2 overtime victory. Jayson Castro could have won the game outright for the Texters but could only split his charities to send the game into overtime.
But Castro made up for his missed free throw by leading the Texters’ charge in the five-minute extension, taking advantage of a series of Meralco turnovers in the dying minutes.
Castro finished with a team-high 31 points, the same output made by their import Joshua Smith before he fouled out in the opening minutes of overtime.
Castro also collected three boards, two assists, three steals, and one block in 38 minutes, while Smith grabbed a whopping 27 rebounds on top of four assists.
Rookie Roger Pogoy added 13 points and three blocks, including one on Meralco hotshot Baser Amer late in regulation.
Ranidel de Ocampo, who did not play in TNT’s last game due to an unspecified injury, added seven crucial points, all scored in the fourth and overtime period.
Meralco’s defeat spoiled another explosive game from Amer, who once again led his team with 25 points, along with nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals. However, he was held scoreless in overtime.
Jared Dillinger scored 20 markers, import Alex Stepheson added 15 points and 12 boards, and Reynel Hugnatan chipped in 12 for the Bolts.
Game Saturday: San Miguel Beer vs. Star Hotshots (Game 1 of best-of-5 semifinals).
