Poy Erram and the TNT Tropang Giga during a PBA Philippine Cup game agaisnt Rain or Shine Elastopainters. –PBA IMAGES
ANTIPOLO—TNT shook off the absence of injured guard Rey Nambatac and a slow start to beat Rain or Shine, 111-103, extending its winning streak to four straight games on Wednesday in the PBA Philippine Cup at Ynares Center here.
RR Pogoy, Poy Erram and Calvin Oftana accounted for the bulk of the offense as the Tropang 5G recovered from a 14-point deficit in the first half before knocking down shots from the outside in the fourth to stretch their string of victories after opening the conference at 0-3.
Pogoy scored 35 points, Erram recorded a career-high 31 points while Oftana added 28 as TNT prevailed despite missing Nambatac.
Nambatac will be sidelined for four to six weeks after injuring his groin more than a week against Meralco.
The Tropang 5G will enter another long break before facing the NorthPort Batang Pier on May 30 at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Rain or Shine fell to a tie for sixth with TNT at 4-3 despite leading 31-17 during the first half.
Andrei Caracut scored 11 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, including a four-pointer and three to begin that stretch that put the Elasto Painters ahead, but the Tropang 5G knocked down six triples since to take command.
Beau Belga left the game late in the second quarter for Rain or Shine after feeling some dizziness caused by a vertigo that forced him to miss the early portion of the elims.
Adrian Nocum also got hurt by tweaking his ankle in the fourth and didn’t return as a precaution, further compounding Rain or Shine’s lack of manpower with rookie Caelan Tiongson out with an injury.
Rain or Shine’s next game is on May 28 against Phoenix at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.