As tough as it was to dismiss Magnolia, TNT managed to claim the win that sent them into their fourth straight semifinal appearance in the PBA.
Third-seeded TNT was not allowed a moment of ease until the final buzzer Saturday night, Dec. 27.
Even after building a 27-point lead early, the Tropang 5G, armed with a twice-to-beat edge, knew a Magnolia comeback was imminent in their PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup quarterfinal match.
The No. 6 Hotshots indeed tried, but TNT still managed to pull through, 118-109, and claim the second seat in the semifinals.
“Credit to Magnolia. We got them down in a hole early, but they kept coming back,” said Tropang 5G coach Chot Reyes after the match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
[RELATED STORY: TNT holds off Magnolia, advances to PBA Philippine Cup semifinals]
Calvin Oftana led TNT with 25 points, none bigger than the bank shot against Magnolia rookie Yukien Andrada for a 108-95 lead with only 1:47 left to play.
But the Hotshots refused to fold, with Zavier Lucero scoring four points to close in, 110-101.
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In the end, the Tropang 5G hung tough for the victory that will send them to their fourth straight semifinal appearance.
There, they will face either No. 2 Rain or Shine or seventh-seeded Meralco, whose quarterfinal battle went the distance.
Jordan Heading backstopped Oftana with 21 points, while Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and RR Pogoy added 15 and 14 markers, respectively.
“We had no illusion that it was going to be a cake walk. We had no illusion it was going to be an easy game for us," said Reyes.
"So when they’re making their run, we said we just need to keep calm and keep our poise to be able to withstand that furious Magnolia run."
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Lucero paced Magnolia with 22 points, 13 rebounds and an assist, while Rome dela Rosa shot four triples on his way to 19 markers.
Jerom Lastimosa, still aching after suffering an ankle injury in Bahrain, scored 18 while Mark Barroca contributed a double-double of 14 points and 13 assists.
TNT vs. Magnolia Scores:
TNT 118 – Oftana 25, Heading 21, Ganuelas-Rosser 15, Pogoy 14, Aurin 9, Williams 8, Nambatac 8, Jalalon 7, Galinato 7, Khobuntin 4, Ferrer 0, Enciso 0
Magnolia 109 – Lucero 22, Dela Rosa 19, Lastimosa 18, Barroca 14, Sangalang 13, Andrada 13, Gomez de Liano 4, Tenorio 3, Verano 2, Koon 1, Alfaro 0, Laput 0
Quarterscores: 32-16, 52-41, 81-73, 118-109
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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.