Pogoy's hot hands gave TNT comebacker over Alaska as PBA returns

Parading a different nickname, TNT brought out the flamethrowers courtesy of RR Pogoy, whose career game gave them a 100-95 win over Alaska in the PBA's much awaited return after a seven-month wait in Angeles, Pampanga.

The former FEU sniper set his new personal best of 45 points on 10/17 from beyond the arc, as the Tropang Giga came from 17 points down in the first half to take down the Aces in their first assignment of the Philippine Cup, despite the ejection of newly-acquired JP Erram.

After a scoreless first, Pogoy fired 21 of those in the second period, five from downtown as it kickstarted the fightback to go into the interval dead even at 48 in the first game at the bubble.

Erram was tossed with 20 seconds left in the third after being slapped with a technical foul after hitting Barkley Ebona's face. He had been slapped with a flagrant foul earlier in the first.

Jayson Castro was the other Tropa that hit double figures with 28, but hit the biggest shots in final period by hitting their team's final six points.

For Alaska, four Aces are on the double figures with Abu Tratter leading the way with 17, and Mike Di Gregorio and Robbie Herndon each had 16 but they were doomed with badly timed turnovers and horrible free throw shooting in which they shot 23/38 from the foul line.

The scores:

TNT 100 -- Pogoy 45, Castro 28, Rosario 9, Semerad 4, De Leon 4, Erram 4, Enciso 2, Reyes 2, Carey 2, Montalbo 0, Vosotros 0, Flores 0

Alaska 95 -- Tratter 17, Di Gregorio 16, Herndon 16, Manuel 15, Racal 8, Brondial 5, Marcelino 5, Ebona 4, Teng 3, Casio 2, Ayaay 2, Galliguez 2, Andrada 0

Quarter scores: 15-30, 48-48, 71-72, 100-95
Photo: PBA