The Tropang Giga delivered a decisive knockout blow, dismantling Rain or Shine 113-95 on October 18. With the victory, TNT punches its ticket back to the finals, poised to defend its title.
TNT rode a powerful second-quarter surge, going on a 12-0 run to push their lead to 40-25. Rain or Shine, with Fuller leading the charge, battled back to trim the deficit to 42-34. However, TNT quickly regained control, capped by a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Pogoy to stretch the lead once again.
TNT Dominates with Relentless Offense and Defense, Secures Finals Berth
The third quarter turned into another nightmare for Rain or Shine as TNT continued to widen the gap. A three-pointer by Rey Nambatac extended the margin to a commanding 27 points (72-45). The Elasto Painters never recovered from there.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson once again led his team to the finals for the second straight conference, delivering a near triple-double performance. The dynamic import was everywhere on the court, putting up a dominant 36 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists, on top of that is his relentless defense as evidenced by his 6 steals. Calvin Oftana provided solid support with 10 points and 9 rebounds, while Roger Pogoy bounced back from a rough Game 4, contributing 19 big points, including a perfect 3-for-3 from distance while Kim Aurin went 4-for-5 adding 12.
The defense that had plagued Rain or Shine throughout the series was in full force once again. Rain or Shine was held under 100 points, with no player managing to score 15 or more. Aaron Fuller, in particular, was stifled, limited to just 14 points and 6 rebounds.
The Scores:
- TNT 113 – Hollis-Jefferson 36, Pogoy 19, Aurin 12, Oftana 10, Nambatac 8, Khobuntin 8, Williams 8, Erram 8, Galinato 4, Heruela 0, Payawal 0, Varilla 0, Ebona 0
- RAIN OR SHINE 95 – Fuller 14, Nocum 13, Mamuyac 11, Datu 11, Caracut 11, Santillan 10, Norwood 8, Ildefonso 5, Belga 5, Escandor 3, Lemetti 2, Clarito 2, Villegas 0, Asistio 0
- QUARTERS: 28-25, 56-39, 90-70, 113-95
