It was simple for Glenn Khobuntin: take the shot whenever open.
But little did he know, perhaps, that such an uncomplicated approach would make him the unlikely hero that helped TNT overcome Ginebra — and the odds as well — to succeed in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup.
The bruising forward finished with 14 points on a 46.2-percent clip, including a pair of crucial triples down the stretch, as his timely hits ultimately enabled the Tropang Giga to hack out the 87-83 overtime win in Game 7 on Friday night.
“Game Seven na eh. Sabi ko kung mao-open ako, hindi ko na pakakawalan ‘yun,” he said moments after the thrilling encounter at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Kasi ‘yun na ‘yung matutulong ko sa kanila kesa ma-turnover pa.”
Khobuntin only had four points in the game’s first three quarters but rose to the occasion in the fourth, where he went on to score half his points.
That included a booming trifecta at the 4:07-mark, which gave them the 75-72 lead and put them up again after facing a 70-64 deficit.
The Kings did manage to send the game into overtime behind Justin Brownlee’s heroics, but TNT got the lead first in extra time behind Rey Nambatac.
And Khobuntin himself would help them establish control further by knocking down another trey to cap off a 6-0 run toward an 85-79 lead with 2:23 left.
Eventually, the Tropa would finish the story in their favor, and Khobuntin couldn’t be any happier with the result — as were his teammates.
“Ayun nag-click naman, pumasok naman. Kasi nakita ko si RHJ hirap na rin siya e, si Rey medyo nahihirapan na rin. Nag-step up na lang din siguro ako,” said the 6-foot-4 forward, who’s now a four-time league champion.
Khobuntin delivering in a winner-take-all was a tad reminiscent of his last game with NU back in the UAAP Season 77 Finals, where he completed a three-point play in Game 3 that all but sealed the Bulldogs’ first title in 60 years.
Fast forward to now, and that same mindset he’s always had worked again.
“I play for my family naman and God, so ‘yun na lang iniisip ko. Manalo matalo, at least binigay mo ‘yung best mo,” the 33-year-old said.
“Yun naman ang importante. Nangyari lang na nakuha namin yung panalo. ‘Yun yung pinakamasaya,” Khobuntin added with a wide smile.
#WATCH: GAME 7 HEROICS! 🏆
Glenn Khobuntin reflects on his two-way effort that lifted TNT to their second #PBA2025 championship 🏀
📹 @justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/qd8V4I3hdd
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) March 28, 2025
