ANTIPOLO - Jordan Heading scored a go-ahead three-point play with 42.1 seconds left as TNT pulled off a nailbiting 97-94 win over Meralco and arranged a PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals rematch with Barangay Ginebra.
Heading's heroics preserved his heroics in a game that saw the Tropang 5G pull ahead by as many as 14 only only to see the Bolts knot the game at 94-all in a thrilling endgame at the Ynares Center on Sunday night.
Heading drove to the basket, made the layup, and drew a foul over Meralco import Patrick Gardner to break the tie after TNT was forced to play all-Filipino after Chris McCullough fouled out with 3:23 left in the match.
With the Game 6 win, the Tropang 5G wrapped up the best-of-seven series, 4-2, and will meet the Gin Kings again in the Commissioner's Cup finals set to begin on Wednesday.
TNT was already used to playing with an all-local crew following the injury to Bol Bol in Games 2 and 3, and the team used it to its advantage.
“My message to the players after (Game 2) is that we’ve proven that we can play this team all-Filipino. We almost pulled Game 2 out, and that helped us to win Game 3 even without an import,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes.
“That situation happened again today in the last quarter when C-Mac fouled out. It was just a reminder in the huddle that we’ve been here before. We know how to play without an import and that’s what it’s going to take to win this game,” said Reyes.
Heading finished with 30 points including 11 in the final quarter, while also shooting 7-of-10 from three-point range.
McCullough had 22 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, and two steals before he fouled out in the final minutes of Game 6.
TNT was already up, 94-88, when Patrick Gardner, Chris Newsome, and Cliff Hodge made baskets to even the court with 1:48 left in the contest.
Gardner finished with 32 points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks, while Newsome had 15 points in the defeat.
The scores:
TNT 97 - Heading 30, McCullough 22, Oftana 12, Ganuelas-Rosser 9, Pogoy 8, Williams 7, Nambatac 5, Castro 4, Khobuntin 0, Aurin 0.
Meralco 94 – Gardner 32, Newsome 15, Quinto 14, Brickman 11, Hodge 11, Mocon 5, Banchero 4, Cansino 2, Black 0, Rios 0, Bates 0.
Quarters: 29-25; 51-44; 79-71; 97-94.
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