Titan ultra ends dry spell

MANILA, Philippines —  This game presented hungry Titan Ultra with an opening to finally end its misery.

The Giant Risers took on TNT at a time when the defending PBA Governors’ Cup champion was dealing with injuries to five key players and still struggling to find its groove with import Darius Days.

And they were quick to jump at this golden opportunity.

Led by Tirrell Brown’s 29-point, 10-rebound, five-assist performance, the Giant Risers secured a 103-87 reversal over the Tropang 5G last night at Ynares Center-Antipolo.

This served as a big confidence booster as Titan stopped not only a 0-3 start marred by back-to-back losing margins of 31 and 35 points in the season-ending conference but also a longer 10-game skid dating back to the previous Commissioner’s Cup.

“Nagpapasalamat ako kay Lord God na binigyan kami ng panalo today especially against TNT,” said coach Rensy Bajar, in the pressroom for the winning teams for the first time since Titan’s 102-98 win over Blackwater last April 8 in the mid-season meet.

“I give credit to all my players, especially Tirrell, they want to win talaga. And I’m happy ‘yung game plan namin, especially on defense, nasunod,” he added.

As sweetener, the 16-point shocker over TNT marked a new high for Titan’s young franchise in terms of winning margin.

Bajar hopes to build momentum from this upset over TNT (1-1), which lost coach Chot Reyes to ejection early in the third for incurring his second technical foul of the game.

“Napakahirap nung three straight losses to motivate the players,” admitted Bajar.

“But I told them just to enjoy the game. Don’t think about winning right away,  treat this game quarter by quarter, minute by minute, possession by possession at baka sakali dun nagkaroon kami ng pag-asa.”

Banking on their defense, the Giant Risers outplayed the Tropang 5G in the middle quarters, 53-33, to seize control.

“We limited TNT to 48 points in the first half and we played good defense. Then na-duplicate namin ‘yun nung second half with the leadership of our import,” said Bajar.

Later, San Miguel Beer roared to 3-0 with a 128-122 victory over Converge.

George King banged in 41-11 as CJ Perez rifled in 31 as the Beermen stretched their unbeaten start while dropping the FiberXers to 3-1.