The TNT Tropang 5G averted an upset on Friday night, coming away with a hard-fought 119-112 victory over the Macau Black Knights at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. With the win, TNT improves to 6-3, just a game away from top-four territory. With the loss, Macau drops to 1-8, which all but assures its early exit from the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
What Happened?
What was supposed to be a walk in the park for TNT—as the difference in records would suggest—became a tough, grind-it-out battle from the get-go all the way to the final buzzer. The two teams traded baskets and leads in the opening frame, with Macau eventually settling for a 25-24 lead. It was much of the same in the second canto, with TNT stealing the halftime lead, 50-48, on a Bol Bol triple at the buzzer.
A high-scoring third quarter followed, with TNT firing 38 big points and Macau countering with 37 to enter the fourth down by just three, 88-85. The score was still level, 94-94, when the Tropa went on a 12-4 run to build a 106-98 cushion, which was enough to withstand the Black Knights’ final rally that got them within 110-107.
Who Stood Out?
Bol Bol was sensational again, dropping 37 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 blocks. But he got plenty of help from Jordan Heading and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser. Heading finished with 20 points and 8 rebounds, along with important game-sealing freebies. BGR, meanwhile, had 17 markers and 7 boards. Importantly, most of Heading’s and BGR’s production came in the second half.
Macau, on the other hand, drew superb outings from Phoenix Shackelford and Damian Chong Qui. Shackelford came off the bench and fired 31 big points on top of 13 rebounds, while Chong Qui had 29 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists.
3 Keys to the Game
- Shooting. In a make-or-miss sport, TNT had more makes and shot a higher percentage, and that proved to be the difference. Overall, the Tropa shot 48.9% from the field compared to Macau’s 39.2%. Some of it was TNT’s defense, while some was just poor shooting on the part of the Black Knights.
- Composure. Tested by the upstarts at Macau, the Tropa showed enough poise, particularly in the fourth quarter, where that 12-4 run created just enough separation to give TNT the win.
- Bol support. Chot Reyes has been clamoring for the Tropa to give Bol Bol more support, and he got it on Friday, especially from Heading and Ganuelas-Rosser. Crucially, the two combined for 31 second-half points, with Heading firing 17 of his 20 and BGR tallying 14 of his 17 after intermission.
Next Up for the PBA
Saturday, April 25, 2026 | Ninoy Aquino Stadium
NLEX Road Warriors vs. Terrafirma Dyip (5:15 p.m.)
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters vs. Magnolia Hotshots (7:30 p.m.)
