TNT wasn’t in the mood to roll out the red carpet in LA Tenorio’s debut as Magnolia playing-coach.
The Tropang 5G torched the Hotshots from beyond the four-point line and came away with a 94-83 victory to assure themselves of a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals of the PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday.
TNT rose to an 8-3 (win-loss) record after winning its third straight game and spoiled the first-ever game of Tenorio as playing-coach of the Hotshots.
LIST LA Tenorio joins short list of PBA playing-coaches
The victory also gave idle Converge the last quarterfinals bonus to complete the Top 4 in the standings at the end of the eliminations, shutting the door on both Barangay Ginebra and the Hotshots.
Jordan Heading paced the Tropang 5G with 23 points including 3-of-4 from four-point range, where the team shot a high 62.5 percent (5-of-8).
“We approached this mindset that we needed two wins. So we knew whatever happens, we needed to get two wins. So we win tonight, we need to get one more win. If we lost tonight, we still needed to get two wins,” said coach Chot Reyes of how the Tropang 5G had a playoff-mindset heading to their final game of the elims.
“So yun ang aming approach, we said let’s get prepared to win two games. And to get to two, we needed one first. So now, we cannot get too high, we cannot be content because we still have one more tough game (to go)."
Calvin Oftana missed a double-double by a single rebound with his 17 points and nine rebounds, Rey Nambatac went 2-of-4 from four-point range for 11 points along with Kelly Williams, while Roger Pogoy added 10 for TNT, which led by as many as 70-51 late in the third period.
The loss will pull down Magnolia to either No. 5 or 6 depending on the outcome of the game between Ginebra and Titan Ultra which is still being played at posting time.
Magnolia's fifth loss in 11 games also ruined the debut of rookie Yukien Andrada, who finished with 12 points and nine rebounds.
The San Beda forward, coming off a championship stint with the Red Lions in the NCAA Season 101, scored two from three-point range, the last of which cut down Magnolia’s deficit to 86-81.
But the Tropang 5G closed out the game on an 8-2 run to cool the rallying Hotshots down.
Zavier Lucero topscored for the Hotshots with 17 points and nine rebounds, Mark Barroca added 16 and five assists, and Ian Sangalang with a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Tenorio finished with four points, two rebounds, and three assists in his first ever stint as playing-coach.
The scores
TNT (94) - Heading 23, Oftana 17, Nambatac 11, Williams 11, Pogoy 10, Ganuelas-Rosser 9, Jalalon 7, Galinato 4, Khobuntin 2, Ferrer 0, Aurin 0.
Magnolia (83) - Lucero 17, Barroca 16, Sangalang 12, Andrada 12, Gomez de Liano 9, Dela Rosa 6, Alfaro 5, Tenorio 4, Koon 2, Verano 0, Laput 0, Escoto 0.
Quarterscores: 27-20; 47-38; 74-62; 94-83.
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