CALVIN Oftana scored 26 points including baskets in the end game as TNT snapped a two-game losing skid, beating Meralco, 92-90, on Sunday in the PBA 48th season Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Oftana made seven points in the final three minutes of the game to lift TNT to the win and improve its mark to 3-3.
The Tropang Giga still had to survive the final moments with Roger Pogoy blocking a lay-up by Aaron Black. Jolo Mendoza missed a three-pointer in the last possession of the game.
The Bolts saw their two-game winning streak end to fall to 3-4.
Oftana singlehandedly gave TNT the lead with five straight points including a three-pointer for a 89-87 advantage. He also converted a lay-up with 45.6 seconds left for a 92-87 lead.
Jayson Castro added 15 points and six rebounds, while Pogoy, Kelly Williams, and Henry Galinato had 11 points apiece.
More than the points, TNT coach Chot Reyes lauded the effort of the team after suffering losses to NorthPort and San Miguel.
“The last game was really bad preparation on my end,” said Reyes. “We had a short postgame in the dugout (after the NorthPort game). I said it was mine. I thought the match-ups were all wrong and the preparation was all wrong and NorthPort took advantage. A lot could be said about the energy and the effort of our players but I think it starts from the coach.”
“Our problems were not the technical. Our problems are the intangibles. We left it at that. And today, I just asked the players how much they wanted, if they are willing to put in the effort and beat a great defensive team, physical team like Meralco. And apparently, the players responded,” said Reyes.
Aaron Black and Cliff Hodge chipped in 16 points apiece for Meralco, which was still ahead, 87-84, with 3:21 left in the game.
The scores:
TNT 92 – Oftana 26, Castro 15, Pogoy 11, K. Williams 11, Galinato 11, Khobuntin 8, Montalbo 5, Aurin 3, M. Ganuelas-Rosser 2, Varilla 0, Reyes 0, Heruela 0, Ponferada 0, B. Ganuelas-Rosser 0.
Meralco 90 – Black 16, Hodge 16, Maliksi 11, Banchero 10, Quinto 9, Newsome 8, Almazan 8, Pascual 5, Mendoza 2, Jose 2, Torres 2, Pasaol 1, Rios 0.
Quarters: 21-25; 49-40; 73-68; 92-90.
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