CHICAGO— It was a veiled threat, a warning shot made after his sub-par TNT debut in Game Four of the Season 50 PBA semifinals against Meralco last Wednesday.
“Once I get going, it will be scary.”
And sure enough, Friday turned into fright night for the Meralco Bolts after TNT broke a 2-2 series tie with a 103-95 Game 5 win.
Chris McCullough backed up his bark with a big bite, 42 points on 16-of-28 shooting including three 3s plus 11 rebounds .
For the first time in the series, the Tropang 5G breached the century mark against a tough Meralco defense by unleashing 62 second-half points.
Jordan Heading erupted for 22 points off the bench while starters Roger Pogoy and Calvin Oftana combined for 28.
But the story was McCollough’s dominance, which he asserted with back-to-back 3s that put TNT on top, 94-85, with 5:22 left to play.
TNT ON THE VERGE OF THE FINALS.
Meralco’s import, Patrick Gardner, acquitted himself well with 25 points and 12 rebounds but he was in foul trouble again.
After committing his fourth foul at the 6:45 mark of the payoff period, Gardner was pulled back to the bench.
And that’s when TNT, emboldened by the absence of Meralco’s 7-foot rim protector, made the game-winning run.
The Bolts couldn’t recreate the magic of Game Four.
Chris Newsome only had 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting. Jason Brickman missed 4 of 5 field goals while CJ Cansino finished with only 4 points.
He’s six inches shorter and far less controversial but Chris McCullough is a legit NBA talent out of NCAA blue blood Syracuse University.
TNT Nation misses the enigmatic Bol Bol but it seems like the franchise has found a charismatic savior.
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