Terrence Jones and the top-seeded TNT KaTropa suffered an embarrassing 108-72 loss at the hands of the Alaska Aces in the 2019 PBA Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It is TNT's second-worst loss in franchise history.
Alaska head coach Alex Compton told reporters after the game he was shocked with the outcome.
"I definitely didn't see that coming," said Compton, who praised his staff for helping him come up with a game plan to stop Jones. "I thought our entire coaching staff, top to bottom, really helped me prepare a game plan that worked tonight."
Alaska simply did everything right from the get-go to take down the TNT behind the 15-point, 19-rebound game of Diamon Simpson. Jeron Teng also had 15 points, while Chris Banchero and Simon Enciso added 14 each.
More importantly, the eighth-seeded Aces remained in the hunt for a semifinal slot and forced a decider on Wednesday.
"Our defense tonight was fantastic. Everybody who had a chance on Terrence Jones tonight did a great job. That was the plan, to stay in the gaps and make other players beat us," said Banchero.
Compton added that the KaTropa "missed shots they normally make."
The KaTropa, who were averaging at least 14 three-pointers in their 10-1 conquest in the elimination round, shot a paltry 6-of-35 from long range against Alaska.
TNT coach Mark Dickel admitted his team didn't react well to how Alaska performed.
"They outhustled us, outrebounded us, outworked us. They were just more ready to play and ultimately when that happens, you're gonna be in trouble. It kinda felt like whatever could go wrong went wrong. And they really played hard and played better, so they deserved to win," said Dickel.
"I think for us, we get our longest winning streak and just assume that if we come out and play, it's gonna go our way and basketball's just not like that. And they really jumped out on us. We're gonna return the favor on Wednesday."
Compton and the Aces, though, are bracing for a furious comeback from the KaTropa in the do-or-die game.
"These games happen. You're not gonna hear a lot of celebrating on our side. What we earned for ourselves is a chance to play a well-coached, disciplined team on Wednesday after a bad loss. So we're gonna have to be absolutely great," he said.
THE SCORES
ALASKA 108 - Teng 15, Simpson 15, Enciso 14, Banchero 14, Manuel 13, Cruz 11, Casio 8, Racal 7, Galliguez 5, Baclao 2, Exciminiano 2, Ayaay 2, Thoss 0, Pascual 0.
TALK N TEXT 72 - Castro 23, Jones 19, Rosario 9, Taha 5, Reyes 4, Magat 4, A. Semerad 3, Heruela 2, Pogoy 2, Trollano 1, D. Semerad 0, Golla 0, Washington 0, Casiño 0.
Quarterscores: 27-18, 53-41, 89-60, 108-72.
EXTRA DRIBBLES
- Jones sat out the entire fourth quarter after being slapped with a flagrant foul penalty 1 at the end of the third quarter for shoving Carl Cruz.
- Alaska asserted its might down low, scoring 52 points in the paint while also grabbing 23 offensive rebounds that resulted in 32 second chance points.
ESPN5's Eros Villanueva contributed to this report.