KELLY Williams drained two clutch free throws with 2.7 seconds left, and TNT kept its grand slam bid alive by the thinnest of margins, defeating Magnolia, 80-79, on Saturday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
TNT’s grand slam hopes looked done after Ian Sangalang scored on an uncontested short stab with six seconds left to give the Hotshots a 79-78 advantage, but Williams secured an offensive rebound off a Jordan Heading miss, before drawing a foul on Rafi Reavis to gain a trip to the foul line.
The TNT veteran calmly sank the free throws to give the Tropang 5G the lead.
Magnolia turned the ball over in the final possession, leaving the Hotshots in despair after mounting a huge comeback in the end.
PBA TAKEAWAYS: Time to recharge for dethroned champion Meralco
RR Pogoy had 18 points including a short stab that broke that aforementioned Magnolia run and keeping the Tropang 5G in the game.
Calvin Oftana added 18 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser had 12 points and five rebounds.
Williams, who was also the hero in the series opener by burying one free throw in the 89-88 victory last Wednesday, had a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds for TNT in the hard-earned knockout game victory.
“Believe it or not, I was kind of expecting it because we were running on fumes,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes, who also revealed that they were playing shorthanded with Brian Heruela out due to an ankle sprain and Jordan Heading a gametime decision due to a back injury.
“I was just telling the players at every huddle to just hold on, don’t worry about the missed shots, don’t worry about the offense, just defend as much as we can because I knew, we didn’t have the legs anymore."
TNT was already up by 49-35 in the third quarter, but Zavier Lucero and Ian Sangalang came alive and made it a close game, but Magnolia still fell short.
Lucero had 15 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks, while Sangalang had 14 points and seven rebounds for the Hotshots, who were ousted despite starting the conference with a 6-0 win-loss record, and ending the eliminations with the No. 3 seed and the twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
The scores:
TNT 80 – Pogoy 18, Oftana 18, Ganuelas-Rosser 12, Williams 10, Enciso 7, Erram 6, Khobuntin 4, Heading 3, Nieto 2, Aurin 0, Vosotros 0.
Magnolia 79 – Lucero 15, Sangalang 14, Lastimosa 13, Dionisio 12, Dela Rosa 9, Barroca 8, Lee 4, Navarro 4, Reavis 0, Alfaro 0, Laput 0.
Quarters: 18-15; 41-33; 63-56; 80-79.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
