The TNT Tropang 5G and Magnolia Hotshots faced off again at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, but with higher stakes: a TNT win would send Chot Reyes and his wards to the PBA Philippine Cup semis, while a Magnolia victory would mean the two teams would meet again in a do-or-die clash. But there would be no win-or-go-home face-off after the Tropa handled business with a wire-to-wire 118–109 triumph. TNT will now wait for the winner of the do-or-die clash between the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the Meralco Bolts on Monday.
What Happened?
The Tropa were locked in to start the game, scoring the first seven points and doubling up Magnolia, 32–16, at the end of the first quarter. TNT extended its lead to 49–22 in the second quarter, only for the Hotshots to finally put up a fight with a 19–3 run heading into the intermission.
Magnolia cut the lead down to six, 59–53, but a Rey Nambatac four-pointer pushed it back up to 63–53. The Hotshots again trimmed it to six, 79–73, before ending the third quarter down just 81–73. A Jordan Heading basket made it a double-digit lead for the Tropa once more, and this time, they did not allow Magnolia to come within eight points until the final buzzer.
Who Stood Out?
Several players starred for TNT, but special mention goes to Calvin Oftana, who finished with a game-high 25 points and made big shots in the second half that quelled Magnolia’s rallies. Jordan Heading was superb as well with his 21 markers, while Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser had 15 points and 9 rebounds and was a difference-maker in the third quarter, just as Magnolia was making its run.
Zav Lucero and Jerom Lastimosa, meanwhile, starred for Magnolia, with the former notching a 22-point, 13-rebound double-double as he played centre practically the entire second half. Lastimosa, on the other hand, returned from a sprained ankle and fired 18 points, spiked by 5 assists.
3 Keys to the Game
- Strong start. TNT showed it was all business right from the opening whistle, and that strong start proved to be the difference. It meant the Hotshots were playing from behind for the rest of the game, and they just could not sustain their repeated rallies. In short, the Tropa were able to build a big enough cushion early.
- Four-point shot. The Tropa made only two four-pointers, but both came at the height of Magnolia’s rallies in the third quarter. The second one, in particular, proved timely, as Nambatac’s four-pointer pushed TNT’s lead back to double digits and restored some semblance of order just as the Hotshots were bearing down.
- Poise. Magnolia launched several rallies after falling behind by 27 points in the second quarter, and at least a couple of those comeback attempts were of the furious kind that would have felled lesser teams. Not TNT. The Tropa showed composure at the height of every Magnolia rally and made the right plays to fend off the Hotshots.
Next Up for the PBA
The PBA Philippine Cup quarter-finals will continue on Sunday, also at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, and it promises to be a treat. The lone game will see the Converge FiberXers and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel facing off in a win-or-go-home clash. This knockout game was made possible by Ginebra’s Christmas Day win over Converge.
Converge vs. Ginebra (7:30 p.m.)
