THE bleeding finally stopped for TNT, but there was no stopping Magnolia from keeping its unbeaten run in a pair of contrasting wins Sunday night in the PBA Philippine Cup.
Playing with a lot of urgency, the Tropang 5G got their act together and pulled off a tough 89-84 win against the San Miguel Beermen to post their first win in four starts in the season-ending meet.
READ: Enciso comes back to haunt San Miguel as TNT ends slump at last
The Hotshots on the other hand, were merciless in a 127-94 whipping of the Terrafirma Dyip, extending their league-leading record to a perfect 5-0.
Here are four takeaways in the Ynares Center doubleheader in Antipolo.
1.CALVIN OFTANA RISING AS NEW FACE OF TNT
The former NCAA MVP out of San Beda came through with rare 20-20 game in the win against San Miguel, finishing with 23 points and 21 rebounds.
It was the first 20-20 game for Oftana, who became the first non-center local to do the feat since Willy Wilson of Barako Bull in the 2015-16 Philippine Cup.
With the TNT franchise, he follows the exploit done by the now retired Carey Harvey during the 2003 Invitationals. Actually, Oftana has been carrying the cudgels for the Tropang 5G in their last three outings, including a 33-point production in a losing cause against Converge.
In four games so far, the 29-year-old forward is avegaring 21.0 points and 9.2 rebounds.
2.JUAMI TIONGSON FINALLY SETTLING DOWN WITH SAN MIGUEL
The veteran guard has slowly assumed the position as the Beermen’s top man at the point since becoming a regular starter at the onset of the season-ending conference.
Against the Tropang 5G, Tiongson carried the load for the team in the fourth quarter when San Miguel made a furious rally that just fell short. He had nine of his 15 points during that stretch and finished by going 5-of-7 from deep. In all, Tiongson shot 5-of-10 from the floor.
3.LOUIE SANGALANG TERRAFIRMA’S GEM RIGHT NOW
Players of Terrafirma are explicably on a difficult situation right now given the uncentainty of the franchise by the end of the season. But for the sophomore big man though, life goes on as he continues to show his value with the Dyip behind a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds, while adding seven assists on the side in the latest loss for the team.
The NCAA champion player from Letran is averaging 17.0 points and 7.4 rebounds for the team, including a conference high 23 points in a losing cause against defending champion Meralco.
Those numbers for sure have Sangalang’s stocks rising not only to the potential buyer of the Dyip franchise, but with the other teams as well.
4.SIMON ENCISO SAYS
The Fil-Am guard has been vocal about being on the court and getting some playing minutes – a break which unfortunately eluded him in a stacked San Miguel Beer roster.
Now in his second tour of duty with TNT, Enciso is giving it back to the Tropang 5G whatever playing opportunity is being accorded to him.
In the last two games of TNT, a guy who baptised himself as the ‘Filipino D-Rose’ has become the valuable sixth man off the bench, which he spiked with a heroic effort in the win over his former team.
He finished with 13 points, four assists, and hit 3 from the three-point range, the last of which came in the final 49 seconds that douse cold water on San Miguel’s endgame fight back.
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