The TNT Tropang 5G entered Wednesday’s Game 5 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum needing just one win to make it to their fourth straight PBA Finals. The Meralco Bolts, in contrast, were hoping to live another day and fought valiantly for it. But, in the end, TNT got the job done with a 99-96 win thanks to a strong second half and a thrilling rally in the final seconds.
What Happened?
TNT looked like a team hell-bent on nailing a Finals spot right from the get-go, racing out to a 30-22 lead after one on Jordan Heading’s hot shooting. But Meralco got right back into it with a 28-16 second quarter led by the unlikely duo of Aaron Black and CJ Cansino.
The Tropa reasserted control in the third, with Heading again leading the way, this time with Calvin Oftana getting into the fray. Their efforts gave TNT a 75-72 lead heading into the fourth and final period, where the Tropa looked headed for an easy win after establishing an 86-76 advantage.
But a Cansino-led run gave the Bolts a 96-91 lead and a new lease on life for a Game 6. A four-pointer by Rey Nambatac, followed by a steal and score from Heading, gave the Tropa back the lead, 97-96. TNT then relied on its vaunted defense to deny the Bolts a shot at stealing back the win.
Who Stood Out?
Heading played like a man looking for another chance in the Finals, going off for 10 early points and leading TNT’s second-half surge. The sweet-shooting lefty finished with 31 points, along with 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. He got solid help from former PBA Finals MVP Rey Nambatac, who added 25 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists off the TNT bench.
Cansino and Black carried the Bolts throughout Game 5 and were, in fact, the sole bright spots. Cansino fired a game-high 36 points to go along with 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, while Black put up all-around numbers of 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists.
3 Keys to the Game
- Defense. TNT’s defense was stifling for long stretches, particularly in the first and third quarters. It was especially unforgiving in Meralco’s last three possessions, where the Tropa got a steal, a block, and a stop to seal the game.
- Heading and Nambatac. Not only did Heading and Nambatac combine for 56 of TNT’s 99 points, but they also made the biggest plays down the stretch: a four-pointer by Nambatac and a steal and score by Heading with under a minute left.
- Interior scoring. The Tropa’s usually prolific three-point shooting was off once more, but it didn’t matter because Heading, Nambatac, and Oftana kept attacking Meralco’s interior. This aggressiveness resulted in TNT outscoring the Bolts 42-33 in the paint.
Next Up for the PBA
With TNT ending its semis series against Meralco, the PBA Philippine Cup will have one Game 6 only on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Tipoff between Ginebra and San Miguel will be at 7:30 p.m.
