Giant Risers shock undermanned Tropang 5G to barge into win column

MANILA, Philippines -- Titan Ultra scored a massive upset against defending PBA Governors’ Cup champions TNT Tropang 5G, 103-87, to tally their first win in the import-laden conference Wednesday evening at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The Giant Risers led by as much as 22 points to grab the victory against the shorthanded Tropang 5G. 

Tirrell Brown II carried the load for Titan with 29 points, to go with 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals. Jerrick Balanza, Joshua Munzon and Bryan Sajonia added 13 markers apiece. 

“Chinallenge ko yung mga players ko to commit on defense because for our ifrst three games that we played, kumbaga nagkaroon kami ng masamang depensa. Nagsimula yan from our rebounding department, at the same time, our transition defense,” Titan Ultra head coach Rensy Bajar said. 

“Napakahirap ng three straight losses, how you motivate the players and the team, but like I said, I told them just to enjoy the game. We just treat this game quarter by quarter, every minute, possession by possession. So baka sakali magkaroon kami ng pag-asa,” he added.

TNT led by four, 31-27, at the end of the first quarter. 

Titan then dropped 31 points in the second quarter and held their opponents to just 17 in the frame to take a 58-48 lead heading into the half. 

This brought the game comfortably into the Giant Risers’ hand, as they kept on the pressure. 

The lead grew to 22, 90-68, after a triple by Aris Dionisio with 8:58 left. 

The Tropang 5G could not climb out of the hole, as the nearest they got to was within 15 points, 84-99, after a trey by Jordan Heading. 

Dionisio added 10 points for Titan, while Roi Sumang and Pao Javillonar had nine each. 

Darius Days paced TNT with 21 markers and six boards, while Kim Aurin had 11. RR Pogoy finished with 10 points for the Tropang 5G, who played without Calvin Oftana, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Poy Erram, Jayson Castro and Kelly Williams, and whose coach, Chot Reyes, was ejected from the game in the fourth quarter. 

Titan Ultra rose to 1-3, while the Tropang 5G dropped to 1-1.