TNT is in the driver's seat in its PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinal tussle against Meralco after scoring back-to-back wins to start the best-of-seven series.
TNT coach Chot Reyes kept his message simple hours before his squad's Game 2 match against Meralco in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals Wednesday, Jan. 7.
Reyes wrote one word on the board inside their dugout at the Smart Araneta Coliseum: “Better.”
The Tropang 5G made sure to apply that in their 109-92 dismantling of Meralco for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
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“We wanted to be better than the first half of the last game. We wanted to be better than the entire game of our last game. That’s simply our thinking, our mentality coming into this ball game,” said Reyes.
“Better defense, better rebounding, better execution, better effort, better communication.”
Doing everything better, TNT battered the Bolts on all fronts from start to finish to claim the win.
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TNT head coach Chot Reyes during Game 2 of the PBA semifinals | Photo: RM Chua/One Sports
Calvin Oftana and Jordan Heading ignited the Tropang 5G's scintillating 29-19 start as they combined for 18 points in the opening salvo.
Oftana ended up with 26 markers on 4-for-7 shooting from the three-point line, while Heading earned the Player of the Game nod as he churned out 24 points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Kelly Williams and RR Pogoy added 12 markers each.
“I think we did a good job of coming out better today than we did last game,” said Reyes.
Chris Newsome paced Meralco with 18 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Cliff Hodge also posted 18 markers to go with seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
Bong Quinto added 13 points for the Bolts, who will try to score a win when the two teams square off in Game 3 Friday, Jan. 9.
Tip off is at 5:15 p.m.
TNT vs. Meralco Scores:
TNT 109 – Oftana 26, Heading 24, Williams 12, Pogoy 12, Ganuelas-Rosser 11, Galinato 6, Nambatac 4, Khobuntin 4, Erram 4, Jalalon 2, Enciso 0, Ferrer 0, Nieto 0
Meralco 92 – Newsome 18, Hodge 18, Quinto 13, Reyson 11, Black 10, Cansino 9, Almazan 9, Banchero 2, Jose 2, Comia 0, Rios 0, Bates 0
Quarterscores: 29-19, 57-46, 82-66, 109-92
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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.