CHOT Reyes pointed to import Chris McCullough getting into foul trouble as the most crucial stretch in TNT's Game 7 loss to Barangay Ginebra, 88-76, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals on Wednesday night.
The high-scoring import was whistled for his fourth personal foul halfway through the third quarter and the Tropang 5G holding on to a 55-52 lead.
READ C-Mac rues 'bad calls' in Game 7 but holds head high after TNT loss
“Na-foul trouble si McCullough. Kaya lang baka sabihin na naman nagrereklamo ako sa referees,” said the TNT mentor as he headed out of the Mall of Asia Arena in a huff following the loss.
“It’s not an excuse but if you asked me. The turning point was McCullough’s foul trouble.”
But Reyes was man enough to give credit to Ginebra.
“The better team won. Wala akong masabi,” he said. “They (Tropang 5G) played a great defensive game and then we couldn’t score when we needed to. Ang dami sana naming stops. We held them down below 90."
Even after McCullough was substituted by Henry Galinato, TNT still managed to hold the fort and extended the lead to 63-56 on back-to-back three-pointers by Jordan Heading.
But not for long.
The Kings took advantage of McCullough’s absence and went on a decisive 12-0 run to end the third period and take a 68-63 lead.
TNT played catch up from there.
McCullough finished with 28 points, 22 rebounds, and three assists, while managing to finish the game with only five fouls. He was held scoreless though, during that crucial third quarter.
“Ang basketball padamihan ng shoot. E, hindi kami maka-shoot so that’s it,” said Reyes.
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