CHICAGO - Deploying 13 guys, even resurrecting the forgotten Barkley Ebona, TNT threw all hands on deck Friday night at the Araneta Coliseum where a victory would have pushed them to the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
But the handicaps the Tropang 5G faced entering the potential series clincher proved too much to overcome.
READ: RoS lives to fight another day after Game 5 triumph over TNT
No Roger Pogoy. No Kelly Williams. No Chot Reyes.
The Grand Slam-seeking franchise lacked scoring punch without Pogoy. They hungered for hustle and toughness without Williams. And even though their coaching depth chart is insane, the telecommunications giant didn't have the same sideline energy and enthusiasm without the sometimes animated Reyes.
As a result, an opportunistic Rain or Shine pounced and ran away with a 113-97 Game Five win that dragged the best-of-seven semifinals battle into the deep waters of a Game Six on Sunday.
Led by Gian Mamuyac's 22 points, the Elasto Painters had five guys score in double-figures, asserting the diversity of an offense that saw Jhonard Clarito finish with 19 while Adrian Nocum, Andrei Caracut, and Keith Datu chipped in 11 apiece.
THAT'S ALL SHE WROTE.
After holding a precarious 56-52 halftime lead, RoS put Game Five to bed with a sizzling 37-12 third quarter run that bloated their advantage to as much as 35 points, 99-64.
Calvin Oftana carried the load for TNT with 23 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field, but no teammate besides Glenn Khobuntin and Kim Aurin, who each carded 13, scored in double-digits.
To make matters worse, the Tropang Giga were murdered in the free throw line where they shot just 8-of-11 while ultra-aggressive Rain or SHine, which relentlessly attacked the basket, went 30-of-37.
With a 3-2 series upper hand plus coach Chot Reyes' returning from suspension in Game Six, TNT still wields a twice-to-beat advantage for a spot in the championship round.
But will Pogoy and Williams return to active duty, and if so, are they going to be healthy enough to keep pace with the run-and-gun Elasto Painters?
NEVER-SAY-DYING?
After absorbing back-to-back losses following a 103-92 Game Five defeat to San Miguel Friday night also at the Araneta Coliseum, crowd darlings Ginebra have fallen to a 2-3 deficit in their best-of-seven series.
READ: SMB sends Ginebra to the brink of elimination with Game 5 win
CJ Perez scattered 31 points for the Beermen, while June Mar Fajardo soldiered through a slight calf tear to card 14 points, 12 rebounds, and six dimes.
But it was Jericho Cruz who lit up the Gin Kings in the fourth of July showdown, providing fireworks worth 27 points on 9-of-12 shooting that included a 1-of-1 fare from 4 and 3-of-4 from 3.
Ginebra kept it close and crept to within four late in the final quarter, but missed free throws and open shots in the lane doomed them.
All told, the Gin Kings shot just 37-percent from the field (30-of-81) and 7-of-24 from three (29.2-percent). It didn't help that their 16 turnovers were converted into 24 points by SMB.
It will be foolish to ever doubt Ginebra's capacity to survive a pair of must-win games.
But San Miguel has to be feeling good right now.
Fajardo is dominating the paint. Perez is cruising and Cruz is impersonating Steph Curry.
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