Sister teams TNT Tropang 5G and NLEX Road Warriors opened PBA Philippine Cup action on Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. Both teams were in need of a win to solidify their chances of finishing in the top four, but it was TNT that got the victory, 119–100, to hike its record to 6–3. NLEX, on the other hand, fell to 6–4 as it missed the services of superstar guard Robert Bolick, who is suiting up for Gilas Pilipinas in the Southeast Asian Games.
What Happened?
TNT broke down NLEX quarter by quarter as the talent disparity showed more as the game went on. The Tropa started by erecting a 26–20 lead after one, before extending it to 56–49 going into intermission. Things were not any different after halftime, with TNT building an 86–72 lead heading to the final quarter. Last Philippine Cup’s runners-up kept up the pressure in the fourth, winning the final 12 minutes, 33–28, to complete the rout.
Who Stood Out?
Jordan Heading was simply sensational against NLEX as he arguably played his best game of the conference. Heading finished with 32 points to go along with five rebounds and four assists in a scintillating display of talent and poise. Calvin Oftana, who fired 19 points, and Rey Nambatac, who added 15 off the bench, were steadying forces who backed up Heading’s showcase.
Without Bolick, it had to be a collective effort from NLEX, and JB Bahio and Kevin Alas were among those who answered the call. Bahio continued to be solid, dropping 13 points and six rebounds, while Alas had 13 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Three Keys to the Game
- Three-point shooting. TNT is the kind of team that can outgun opponents from deep, and it was on target against NLEX. The Tropa hit 13 of its 32 attempts from downtown for a par-for-the-course 40.6 percent clip. NLEX, in contrast, was just 3-for-18 without its main gunner in Bolick.
- Jordan Heading. Again, Heading was sensational against NLEX, and the Road Warriors simply had no answer for him. He controlled the game, made all the big plays, and hit the clutch shots to make sure NLEX would not build any sort of momentum.
- No Robert Bolick. This is not to say NLEX would have won if Bolick had played, but his absence certainly did not help. Without Bolick, the Road Warriors did not have that one singular talent who could break down the TNT defense and make things easier for Bahio and Alas.
Next Up for the PBA
The PBA Philippine Cup continues on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, with two teams jockeying for better seedings in the featured game and another squad looking to stay alive for a possible playoff spot going up against a team already eliminated from contention. The Titan Ultra Giant Risers open hostilities when they take on the Phoenix Fuel Masters, who bowed out of the playoff race after losing to the Meralco Bolts on Friday. The nightcap will see the Meralco Bolts going up against the Converge FiberXers in a showdown of playoff-bound teams.
Titan Ultra vs. Phoenix (5:15 p.m.)
Converge vs. Meralco (7:30 p.m.)
