TNT Tropang 5G made a miraculous comeback in the dying minutes of Game 5 to stun the determined Meralco Bolts, in a 99-96 nailbiter, and advanced to the PBA Philippine Cup finals.
The last season’s All-Filipino Conference runner-up showcased yet again their overwhelming offensive firepower that erased a five-point deficit in a span of seconds, consequently putting an end to their semifinal series against the Bolts, Wednesday night, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Coach Chot Reyes-headed team came out swinging in the opening canto, building a 19-4 lead that dictated the pace of the match early.
Eyeing to keep their finals hopes alive, Meralco bounced back in the second quarter with their run-and-gun to take the lead at the half, 50-46.
It was then a back-and-forth ball game in the third quarter with both teams hitting their strides, but TNT came out with a two-digit advantage.
Down 76-86 deficit midway past the fourth quarter, CJ Cansino singlehandedly kept the Bolts in the game after he knocked down 15 points in the last five minutes of the game.
Cansino went on to knock down the jumper that gave Meralco a 95-91 lead in the last 26 seconds, nearly sealing the deal for the Bolts. But, in an unexpected turn of events, TNT flipped the script and spoiled Cansino’s career game.
Refusing to surrender, TNT go-to guard Rey Nambatac nailed a cold-blooded four to cut the Bolts’ deficit into just one point with 15 seconds left. Jordan Heading then stole the ball from Cansino for a point-blank basket that turned the tables for a six-point swing and gave a 97-96 lead to TNT.
Nambatac put on the finishing touches, sinking a pair of free throws to bring TNT to its fourth straight finals appearance.
“As for our win tonight, I always preach the mantra of: ‘Never give up,'” TNT head coach Reyes said. “Even if we were down, the players were saying: ‘Kaya pa ‘yan. So there was also a lot of positivity.”
“It really took our best to come out victorious. It was a combination of not giving up, great inputs, and great coaching from our staff,” Reyes added.
Heading bagged the Player of the Game honors after his game-high 31 points performance, alongside four rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
With RR Pogoy’s absence, Nambatac answered the call for TNT, delivering 25 markers in the series-clinching win. Meanwhile, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Calvin Oftana also helped the Tropang 5G with a combined 22 points and 11 rebounds.
On the other side of the court, sophomore guard Cansino poured everything for the Bolts, finishing the game with a career-high 36 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
The Tropang 5G will now wait for their Philippine Cup finals matchup, which will either be the San Miguel Beermen or the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. Going back to last season, the Beermen defeated TNT in the finals of the All-Filipino Conference. Meanwhile, it was the Tropang 5G squad that came out on top against Ginebra in their Season 49 Governor’s Cup showdown.