Jordan Heading scored a career-high 32 points to lead TNT to a 119-100 victory over NLEX on Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, securing the Tropang Giga a spot in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup quarterfinals.
Calvin Oftana and Rey Nambatac also stepped up, contributing 19 and 15 points, respectively, as TNT snapped a two-game losing streak.
The win lifted the Tropang Giga to 6-3, joining Rain or Shine, San Miguel, Magnolia, Converge, and NLEX in the next round.
For coach Chot Reyes, the difference was his team’s ability to sustain intensity throughout the game, a contrast to their back-to-back losses against Rain or Shine and San Miguel.
(C) PBA Images
“First of all, we wanted to play a complete game. We’ve lost our past two games because both times we started off really well and then we faltered in the second half,” Reyes said.
“So… our theme the whole week in practice was to put a complete game together, playing well the whole 48 minutes and I think that’s what happened tonight,” the Coach of the Year added.
Heading delivered on that promise, scoring 30 of his 32 points in the last three quarters.
The Fil-Australian guard finished 11-of-19 from the field, including 4-of-8 from three, and added five rebounds and four assists.
“We just wanted to get our rhythm going into the playoffs and make sure we’re playing basketball the right way,” Heading said.
“I’m just trying to get into the game as it comes to me and thankfully these guys have found me in a lot of good looks and found me in rhythm. So shoutout to my teammates for that.”
Oftana (19 points), Nambatac (15), Glenn Khobuntin (11) also contributed to the win.
(C) NLEX Road Warriors
The loss dropped NLEX to 6-4 and put their top-four aspirations in jeopardy.
The Road Warriors will need a win over Converge on Wednesday to keep their twice-to-beat advantage hopes alive.
JB Bahio led NLEX with 13 points, matching Kevin Alas, while Javee Mocon added 12 and Robbie Herndon contributed 11.
Robert Bolick and Poy Erram missed the game to serve Gilas Pilipinas duties.
The Scores:
TNT 119 – Heading 32, Oftana 19, Nambatac 15, Khobuntin 11, Williams 9, Ganuelas-Rosser 8, Ferrer 7, Aurin 6, Jalalon 5, Nieto 5, Enciso 2, Hill 0, Galinato 0
NLEX 100 – Bahio 13, Alas 13, Mocon 12, Herndon 11, Nieto 9, Fajardo 8, Policarpio 7, Torres 6, Valdez 6, Ramirez 5, Rodger 4, Amer 4, Onwubere 2
Quarterscores: 26-20, 56-49, 86-72, 119-100
