TNT’s locals sparked a breakaway before Bol Bol took them home as the Tropang 5G hacked out a 94-89 win over the Meralco Bolts in Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals on Wednesday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Calvin Oftana and Jordan Heading led a 16-4 TNT rally midway through the fourth quarter — combining for 14 in that stretch as the Tropang 5G turned a one-point deficit into a 90-79 lead with 3:04 remaining in the game.
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The Bolts responded with a 10-2 run of their own, capped by a Bong Quinto four to trim the lead to just three, but Bol Bol scored on a driving lay-up to douse cold water on the Bolts’ late uprising in the opener of the best-of-seven series.
Bol finished with 37 points, including back-to-back hits in the end to steady the ship for TNT. That rounded out his most well-rounded statline of the conference, finishing with 11 boards, six blocks and a conference high eight assists while showing a lot more effort on both ends for the Tropang 5G.
His effort wasn't lost on coach Chot Reyes.
"The foundation of our game plan really was to not allow Meralco to outwork us. To win the effort stats. Dive on the floor for the loose balls, extra effort, deflections, setting good screens, all the litttle things that Meralco is very good at," Reyes said.
"I thought if we're able to match their energy and their effort then we give ourselves a good chance to win. In the end, our defense held strong," he continued.
Just like in their closeout game vs. NLEX in the quarterfinals, Bol had plenty of help, with RR Pogoy adding 21 points and nine rebounds, Heading chipping in 16 while Oftana had a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds.
TNT led by 11 early in the second quarter as Bol and Pogoy started off hot in the first half for the Tropang 5G but Meralco had answers behind Marvin Jones and Bong Quinto who led the Bolts' fightback.
After trailing for most of the game, Meralco looked like it was about to take control of the game, taking multiple four point leads to start the fourth quarter before Oftana and Heading led the backbreaking Tropang 5G rally.
Jones bucked a flat start to finish with 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Quinto had 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including two fours for the Bolts.
The Scores:
TNT 94 - Bol 37, Pogoy 21, Heading 16, Oftana 14, Nambatac 3, Williams 2, Castro 1, Quietevis 0, Ganuelas-Rosser 0, Aurin 0, Khobuntin 0, Galinato 0
Meralco 89 - Jones 22, Quinto 17, Cansino 12, Newsome 11, Brickman 8, Hodge 8, Riso 5, Banchero 4, Bates 2, Black 0, Mocon 0
Quarters: 28-21, 53-49, 69-69, 94-81
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