TNT bolstered its bid for a top-four finish following an easy 113-96 win over Blackwater in the PBA Philippine Cup, Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Tropang 5G got going during the second chapter before breaking the game wide open in the ensuing frame, eventually netting their second win in a row to improve to 7-3–and, more importantly, remain at no. 3 in the team standings.
Another win against the 6-4 Magnolia in the penultimate game of the elimination round this Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum shall enable the traditional contenders to clinch their position and the win-once quarterfinal incentive.
(C) PBA Images
“I think eight wins will give us a twice-to-beat [advantage], so that’s how important that game is,” offered head coach Chot Reyes of the rivalry affair.
Calvin Oftana led the way with a conference-high 25 points behind six treys, 20 of which he made in the first half as he presided over their strong start.
Roger Pogoy went 4-of-6 from three-point distance and finished with 18 points in his first game back from an injury. Henry Galinato supplied 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists as the tandem spearheaded the bench mob.
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser made 12 points while Jordan Heading added 11 on three triples as the squad nailed a total of 18 shots from the first arc.
It was the same tandem which helped put TNT in control the rest of the night, joining hands for a 12-4 rally–in which Oftana chipped in as well–to stretch a six-point lead to 54-40 with five minutes remaining in the second chapter.
The Tropa would go on to lead by as many as 26 points, 88-62, following a Rey Nambatac layup off a Galinato feed with three minutes left in the third.
“We knew that we have to win our last two [elimination round] games and to do that, first, we have to win this game,” said Reyes.
“That’s why we had full focus on being able to play defense because we know for Sunday our defense is going to be tested battling a very deep and very well-coached Magnolia team,” added the champion bench tactician.
(C) PBA Images
Troy Mallilin had 20 points to lead the Bossing, who are once again headed to an early vacation as they finished the conference with a 1-10 record.
The Scores:
TNT 113 – Oftana 25, Pogoy 18, Galinato 14, Ganuelas-Rosser 12, Heading 11, Khobuntin 8, Aurin 8, Enciso 6, Jalalon 4, Ferrer 3, Nambatac 2, Hill 2, Williams 0, Nieto 0.
Blackwater 96 – Mallilin 20, Barefield 13, David 13, Una 12, Cruz-Dumont 9, Guinto 9, Altamirano 8, Jopia 8, Mendoza 2, Zamar 2, Andrade 0.
Quarterscores: 35-25; 66-51; 92-67; 113-96.
