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Roger Pogoy submits a 30-point performance as TNT fights back from a double-digit deficit to remain on track of becoming just the fifth franchise in league history to win all three conferences in a single season
MANILA, Philippines – TNT’s Grand Slam bid lives on.
The Tropang 5G escaped elimination and stayed in the running in the PBA Philippine Cup after a pulsating 89-88 win over twice-to-beat Magnolia at the PhilSports Arena on Wednesday, June 18.
Roger Pogoy unloaded a game-high 30 points as sixth-seeded TNT fought back from a double-digit deficit to remain on track of becoming just the fifth franchise in league history to win all three conferences in a single season.
“It’s really not in our minds, but my attitude is these guys have done so much already this year, if the Grand Slam is not for us, it’s not for us. But no one’s going to take away what we’ve achieved already this season,” said Tropang 5G head coach Chot Reyes.
“We had a long talk before practice the other day to ask them how much they want it — if this is something they really, really want because it’s going to be really, really hard.”
TNT showed its burning desire to claim its place in the PBA pantheon as it climbed out of a 13-point hole then leaned on the quartet of Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, Kelly Williams, and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser in the fourth quarter to force a do-or-die duel set on Saturday, June 21, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Pogoy unloaded 12 points in the final period, his last bucket giving the Tropang 5G the upper hand at 78-77, before Ganuelas-Rosser, Williams, and Oftana joined hands in an 11-4 blitz that propped an 88-81 lead with two minutes left.
Ganuelas-Rosser sank a pair of free throws and a three-pointer to spark that run, which concluded with a Williams triple and an Oftana layup.
But the Hotshots refused to go away, knotting the score at 88-88 following a trey from Rome dela Rosa and a four-point shot by Paul Lee with under 40 seconds remaining.
Fortunately for TNT, Williams grabbed an offensive rebound after two Oftana misses then got fouled during a shot attempt, eventually knocking down one of his two free throws to regain the lead for his side.
Pogoy then also displayed his defensive chops, preventing Magnolia’s Zavier Lucero from getting a shot off as time expired.
Oftana finished with 21 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals to backstop Pogoy, while Williams and Ganuelas-Rosser chipped in 12 and 10 points, respectively, and combined for 13 rebounds.
It was bounce-back performance for Ganuelas-Rosser after he served a one-game suspension for a flagrant foul on Barangay Ginebra’s Troy Rosario — his absence severely felt as the Tropang 5G missed the top four after losing to the Hotshots in the final game of the elimination round.
Jordan Heading added 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals in the win, his first with the TNT since his trade from Converge.
“What we had in our minds is we’re coming back and we’re playing on Saturday. Going to this game, we set our practice schedule to tomorrow and Friday because we were hell-bent on playing on Saturday,” said Reyes.
Lee topscored for Magnolia with 15 points, Lucero and William Navarro put up 14 points each, while Jerome Lastimosa tallied 12 points and 6 assists.
Mark Barroca posted 6 points, assists and 9 rebounds in the loss, which marked the Hotshots’ fourth in the last six games.
The Scores
TNT 89– Pogoy 30, Oftana 21, Williams 12, Heading 10, Ganuelas-Rosser 5, Erram 4, Galinato 2, Heruela 0, Aurin 0, Enciso 0, Varilla 0, Khobuntin 0.
Magnolia 88 – Lee 15, Navarro 14, Lucero 14, Lastimosa 12, Sangalang 10, Dela Rosa 10, Barroca 6, Dionisio 4, Laput 2, Reavis 1, Alfaro 0.
Quarters: 18-22, 37-44, 61-65, 89-88.
– Rappler.com
