Rey Nambatac buried the game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer to lift TNT past Converge, 110-107, in a dramatic end to its two-game slide in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Tropang 5G went to their lefty PG for the final shot when the game was tied at 107-all after Jamaal Franklin went 4-for-4 from the line on the other end. And he delivered, knocking down the outside shot under duress.
He went on to finish with 30 big points, as the 32-year-old took much of the scoring load. Fellow guards Jordan Heading and Roger Pogoy went down in pain one after the other, adding more woes to an already injury-riddled side.
(C) PBA Images
TNT improved its record to 2-2 after completing the comeback — the crew had given up 16 unanswered points to the FiberXers to open the ball game.
“We could have folded when we lost Jordan, and when we lost Roger. Still, the guys continued playing,” praised head coach Chot Reyes of his men.
“Nakita niyo naman, ang lalim na ng baul na hinatak ko si Tyrus Hill, sina Paul Varilla. But they contributed, and allowed this guy beside me to come up with his endgame heroics,” the champion mentor added, referring to Nambatac.
Heading, before leaving late in the third, had 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting as he was also instrumental in making it a ball game after a slow start.
Galinato netted a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds, including a solid cleanup job for the 104-103 lead with 1:04 to go. The wide-bodied big man came through down the stretch before Franklin replied with his free throws.
Darius Days added 10 markers on 19 shots in what would be his final game with the franchise, as he will be replaced by Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson.
“Darius is not the Darius Days that we had a couple of years back,” lamented the straightforward Reyes. “He’s completely out of shape, overweight, and I think it shows in his game. And obviously, it’s affecting the game of the locals.”
The older brother of Rondae is expected to make his PBA return on Saturday, August 1, when the Tropa take on San Miguel at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
(C) PBA Images
Converge, on the other hand, fell to its second loss in a row after a blazing 3-0 start and failed to start its reunion with Franklin on a winning note.
Franklin finished with 30 points and five rebounds. Justine Baltazar supplied 21 points and 11 rebounds, with Mikey Williams adding 17 points.
The Scores:
TNT 110 – Nambatac 30, Heading 20, Galinato 12, Days 10, Jalalon 9, Ferrer 9, Quitevis 6, Pogoy 5, Khobuntin 4, Varilla 3, Aurin 2, Hill 0, Enciso 0,
Converge 107 – Franklin 30, Baltazar 21, Williams 17, Arana 11, Gomez de Liano 8, Garcia 6, Abueva 6, Concepcion 3, Tungcab 3, Stockton 2, Policarpio 0
Quarterscores: 25-33, 51-54, 71-80, 110-107.
