TNT needs to beat Magnolia convincingly to finish in the third spot at the end of the elimination round of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup, which would mean a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
RR Pogoy and the TNT Tropang 5G look to cap their elimination round on a high note as they face the Magnolia Hotshots in the final playdate of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup on Sunday, Dec. 21.
Tip off is at 5:15 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
[WATCH: PBA LIVESTREAM: TNT Tropang 5G vs Magnolia Hotshots | Philippine Cup]
At 7–3, TNT is riding a two-game winning streak and has everything to play for.
A win will secure the Tropang 5G at least a third place finish, along with a coveted twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
A loss, however, could drag TNT down to as low as fifth, should a logjam with Magnolia, Converge, and possibly Ginebra materialize.
TNT comes in brimming with confidence after a 113–96 demolition of Blackwater, where Calvin Oftana led the charge with 25 points, adding two rebounds and two assists.
Pogoy backed him up with 18 points, while Henry Galinato delivered an all-around showing of 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block.
Depth continues to be TNT’s strength, with Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Jordan Heading chipping in 12 and 11 points, respectively, as the Tropang 5G showed balance and discipline on both ends.
With playoff incentives on the line and Magnolia dealing with key injuries, TNT will look to impose its tempo early and lock in a favorable postseason path.
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
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[Editor’s note: This article was written by a member of One Sports Digital with the help of AI and reviewed by editorial staff for accuracy.]