The TNT Tropang 5G literally snatched a win from the jaws of defeat in Game 5, scoring six points—a Rey Nambatac four-pointer and a Jordan Heading under-goal stab off a steal—in 12 seconds near the end of regulation to turn a 91–96 deficit into a 97–96 lead. The Tropa then held firm on the other end, getting two crucial stops to seal the victory and book the first ticket to the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
Afterwards, Chot Reyes credited his coaching staff for a strategic tweak that, according to the four-time PBA Coach of the Year, may have helped Nambatac get the space he needed to launch—and make—that pivotal four-pointer.
“I also want to credit my assistants. Coach Josh [Reyes] and Coach Sandy [Arespacochaga] were the ones who said, in that last inbound, why don’t we inbound from the backcourt?” Reyes recounted of the timeout preceding TNT’s winning sequence. “Because if you remember, we had two half-court inbounds off timeouts, and we missed both. We couldn’t convert. So, they said, why don’t we give ourselves more space by inbounding from the backcourt? And that’s what led to Rey Nambatac’s four-point shot.”
It was a small tweak, all right, but it worked. Nambatac had the full court to himself—not to mention a smaller Anjo Caram on him—and he took advantage.
TNT Refused to Lose
Then again, the Tropa still had to believe they could turn around what was, at that point, a seemingly lost game. TNT looked in control with some four minutes remaining in the fourth, only to see the Bolts zoom ahead on the shoulders of a CJ Cansino takeover. The Tropang 5G appeared shell-shocked by the turn of events and were reeling.
That’s when Reyes reiterated something he’s been telling his team over and over: don’t give up.
“I always preach the mantra of never give up. Even when we were five points down in the huddle, the players kept saying, ‘Kaya pa,’” Reyes bared. “So, there was a lot of positive energy in the huddle.”
TNT certainly didn’t give up. Now, they are in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals and are four wins away from starting Season 50 as champions.
