ANTIPOLO — Rey Nambatac nailed the game-winner to help TNT complete a comeback of epic proportions and beat Meralco in overtime, 100-98, in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup, Wednesday night at the Ynares Center here.
The lefty guard finished with 22 points, none bigger than the hop-step jumper he sank with nine-tenths of a second left to break the 98-all knot. He delivered the toughest of shots to resuscitate his side after trailing by as many as 23.
He scored 10 of his points within the fourth quarter and extra time, knocking down two fours. And that included the one that gave them the 90-87 lead with 1:04 to go in regulation before Chris Newsome eventually sent the game into OT.
But the Tropang 5G proved to be the better team in the endgame, big thanks to Nambatac’s guts. A miss by Cliff Hodge from deep on the other end as time expired was all they needed to notch their third successive victory.
(C) PBA Images
“Sa amin naman, kay Rey, it’s just a matter of making the right decisions eh,” said head coach Chot Reyes. “It was a total team effort; in the end, one guy has to… What do they always say? Big-time players make big shots, big plays.”
Calvin Oftana top-scored for TNT with 24 points, alongside five rebounds and four steals. Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Roger Pogoy made 14 apiece, while Jio Jalalon added 10 as they were all crucial in turning the game around.
Jalalon himself was the energy guy that helped revive the Tropa in the second half. He ran the one effectively during the third before nailing three free throws to tie the game at 74-all early in the fourth to set up the tight affair.
The rest then came in to contribute, with young big man Henry Galinato creating the prelude to Nambatac’s game-winner. He was responsible for tying the game up at 98-all by cleaning up Pogoy’s missed shot.
Thanks to their collective effort, TNT has joined NLEX at the top of the standings as the MVP teams now tote identical 4-1 records.
“We actually talked about it and we said that since Meralco is desperate for a win, we were fighting for something else, and that is to remain atop the standings,” said Reyes. “But we have no delusions about it.
“We know that this is still a long way to go. There are still so many tough teams that we have to face, so right now our focus is on rest and recovery and being ready for our next game,” he added as they will face Terrafirma on November 7.
(C) PBA Images
Newsome, on the other hand, had 24 points with five rebounds and six assists to lead Meralco, which absorbed its second straight loss and fell to 3-4.
But the Bolts’ biggest concern right now is the status of CJ Cansino, who suffered an apparent ankle injury late in the second and never returned.
Hodge made 21 points and 10 rebounds. Aaron Black had 14 points and seven rebounds while Chris Banchero added 12 in the heartbreaking defeat.
The Bolts will shift their focus on the 2025-26 EASL season as they’re set to face the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots on November 2 in Taiwan and on the 8th in Ilagan, Isabela.
They will return to PBA action on December 10 versus the Dyip.
The Scores:
TNT 100 – Oftana 24, Nambatac 22, Rosser 14, Pogoy 14, Jalalon 10, Galinato 8, Khobuntin 4, Ferrer 4, Williams 0, Enciso 0, Aurin 0, Nieto 0.
Meralco 98 – Newsome 24, Hodge 21, Black 14, Banchero 12, Cansino 8, Quinto 6, Maliksi 5, Almazan 4, Bates 2, Comia 2, Pascual 0.
Quarterscores: 13-21, 28-48, 64-74, 90-90, 100-98.
