Bol Bol dropped 50 big points to power TNT to a 97-92 come-from-behind victory over Titan Ultra for their third consecutive victory in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center II in Montalban Saturday night.
Balling out with no less than South Sudan Basketball Federation president Luol Deng in attendance, the former NBA winger produced 14 of his points in the deciding chapter to lead the Tropang 5G’s retaliation from down 78-73.
He scored 10 in the critical 12-0 run for the 85-78 lead with 4:36 remaining, effectively putting the reigning conference champions ahead for good.
(C) PBA Images
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Roger Pogoy, and Jayson Castro would come through in the closing moments to keep the Giant Risers at bay, eventually creating separation with Ginebra in the standings to get solo fourth (5-2).
Bol shot 21-of-34 from the floor and also collected 17 rebounds, four assists, a steal, and six blocks in another heavy lifting as the crew lost Calvin Oftana, who got ejected late in the first quarter after incurring an F2 infraction.
“We had to rely on the scoring of Bol to make up for the absence of our gunners–Calvin, Jordan Heading, and Roger Pogoy, who was off his game,” offered head coach Chot Reyes as Heading remains out due to injury.
Bol indeed had to pick up much of the scoring load, with Rey Nambatac the only other player in double figures with 12 points for the traditional contenders.
A total of 10 players, though, scored at least three in the win, and momentum is now on their side with three Ws in a row, yet the champion mentor still wants to see more entering their last five games of the elimination round.
“We still have to play Magnolia, Converge, and Ginebra. So, we really have to find a way to raise our game, to elevate our level,” Reyes said.
“Otherwise we’re going to have a really difficult time against those teams … we have a tough stretch in these last five games,” he added. “I don’t think the kind of game that we played in the last three games is going to get the job done.”
Targeting, of course, a Top Four finish, TNT will continue its bid against Converge (2-5) on Wednesday, April 22, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
(C) PBA Images
Michael Gilmore had 33 points and 15 rebounds, while Joshua Munzon added 21 to carry Titan Ultra, which fell to 2-5 following another collapse.
The Scores:
TNT 97 – Bol 50, Nambatac 12, Castro 7, Ferrer 6, Williams 5, Ganuelas-Rosser 5, Khobuntin 3, Nava 3, Pogoy 2, Oftana 2, Nieto 0, Aurin 0, Galinato 0.
Titan Ultra 92 – Gilmore 33, Munzon 21, Javillonar 8, Flores 5, Dionisio 5, Balanza 5, Yu 4, Ular 4, Pessumal 3, Sajonia 2, Omega 2, Caralipio 0.
Quarterscores: 26-24, 48-50, 66-68, 97-92.
