Trailing for the most part, TNT slowly wrested control of its PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup match against Terrafirma behind Kelly Williams.
In a team loaded with three-point specialists, Kelly Williams emerged as the best from that range Friday night, Nov. 7.
Williams dropped a career-best eight triples as TNT outlasted Terrafirma, 109-95, in overtime in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Montalban.
The veteran big shot six of those in the fourth and in the extension, the last of which gave the Tropang 5G a comfortable 105-95 lead with only 1:28 left to play.
[RELATED STORY: PBA 50 games now available on Pilipinas Live, One Sports' YouTube for free]
TNT thus went on to rack up a fourth straight victory for joint first spot with Rain or Shine anew as they each hold 5-1 cards.
“I’ve been saying this since I’ve been back, coach (Chot Reyes) is giving me opportunities to do what I do, and he’s been trusting me,” said Williams, who finished with 28 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block.
“And my teammates are trusting me to take the shots. They are encouraging me to take the shots, and I want to do right by the opportunity that I have.”
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Usual suspects Pogoy, Oftana, Nambatac deliver for TNT
RR Pogoy backstops Kelly Williams. | Photo: PBA Images
While Williams bailed them out of trouble, the Tropang 5G also banked on the usual suspects in RR Pogoy, Calvin Oftana and Rey Nambatac to chip away at a once 16-point deficit, 51-35.
Pogoy wound up with 21 points, two rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block; Oftana hhad 15 points, six rebounds, three assists and a steal; while Nambatac added 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists and a block.
Jio Jalalon also made a difference for the Tropang 5G as he put in seven points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and two steals.
“In the end, we go with what’s working. And tonight, it’s Kelly’s three-point shot. Credit to Terrafirma,they came in with a great game plan. They stayed home with our shooters, forcing them to miss those shots,” said Reyes.
[WATCH: PBA LIVESTREAM | TNT Tropang 5G vs Terrafirma Dyip | Season 50 Philippine Cup]
Ahead for the most part, the Dyip saw their advantage taken from them little by little, even with a 26-point output from Jerrick Ahanmisi.
Ahanmisi, like most players from Terrafirma, went cold in the extra period, where the Tropang 5G wrested control.
Only Aljon Mariano — who had 10 points, five rebounds and a block — made a field goal for the Dyip in the final five minutes of action.
Terrafirma dropped their last four games for a horrendous 1-5 card, which dimmed their playoff hopes.
TNT vs Terrafirma Scores:
TNT 109 – Williams 28, Pogoy 21, Oftana 15, Nambatac 14, Jalalon 7, Ganuelas-Rosser 6, Ferrer 6, Khobuntin 5, Heading 5, Galinato 2, Enciso 0, Nieto 0, Aurin 0
Terrafirma 95 – Ahanmisi 26, Paraiso 13, Sangalang 10, Mariano 7, Bravo 7, Zaldivar 7, Hernandez 7, Rivero 5, Olivario 4, Hanapi 3, Catapusan 3
Quarterscores: 16-20, 35-49, 67-74, 92-92, 109-95
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.