TNT won Game 2 of the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup semifinals on Wednesday despite having a lot less free throws than Meralco.
READ: TNT cruises to wire-to-wire win, takes 2-0 lead against Meralco
The Tropang 5G shot 11 free throws, 24 less than what the Bolts took in Game 2. TNT also committed more fouls against Meralco, 26-14, that led to the free throw count.
Despite taking less free throws, the Tropang 5G won the contest, 109-92, to grab a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven semifinal series – with much thanks to their good shooting percentage from the field after they made 55 percent of their attempts (44-of-80).
Free throws have been a hot topic in this series after the Bolts only took 19 shots from the charity stripe in Game 1, 28 less than its sister squad, which came out victorious, 100-95.
TNT coach Chot Reyes preferred not to discuss the free throw discrepancy to reporters, but was visibly unhappy with the officiating in some parts of the contest.
“Ayoko na, baka ma-fine ako ng Commissioner’s Office,” he answered when asked to react to his team's free throw total.
“But I let the refs know what I thought about that,” said Reyes.
For their part, Reyes said regardless of fouls and free throws, the Tropang 5G always try to play above the factors they can’t control.
“We will leave it at that. Like I said, sometimes, we get a lot of free throws. Sometimes, we don’t get a lot of free throws. In the end, we have to take whatever is there and figure out a way to grind out the win," he said.
“In the end, hopefully, that gets us through.”
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