TNT advanced to the semifinals with a wire-to-wire 118-109 win over Magnolia on Saturday in the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Tropang 5G drew big games from Calvin Oftana, Jordan Heading, and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser to dominate the Hotshots after they led by as many as 27 points.
TNT now awaits the winner of the Rain or Shine-Meralco series to determine its next assignment.
The Tropang 5G have now progressed to the semifinals for the fourth straight conference.
The loss ended LA Tenorio's first stint as Magnolia's playing coach.
Dream start for TNT
TNT got off to a hot start and led, 32-16, at the end of the first quarter, and was eventually ahead, 49-22, during the second quarter.
Tenorio still led a comeback bid late in the third quarter when he made a three during a run that pulled the Hotshots to within six, 79-73.
Baskets from Oftana and Heading, however, got TNT back in control to start the fourth with an 85-73 lead.
Oftana had 25 points fueled by 5-of-6 shooting from three-point range, with Heading chipping in 21 points including an 8-of-9 clip from the foul line.
Ganuelas-Rosser had a near double-double, registering 15 points and nine rebounds for the Tropang 5G, who actually won back-to-back games against the Hotshots, the first victory coming at the last match-up of their elimination round campaign.
“We came into our last game thinking that we needed to get two wins to get to the Final Four. I’m happy that we were able to deliver that second part of that transaction tonight. We took care of the first part the other night, and then we took care of the second part,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes.
Zavier Lucero had 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Hotshots, which lost four of their last five games to close out their conference.
The scores:
TNT 118 – Oftana 25, Heading 21, Ganuelas-Rosser 15, Pogoy 14, Aurin 9, Nambatac 8, Williams 8, Jalalon 7, Galinato 7, Khobuntin 4, Ferrer 0, Enciso 0.
Magnolia 109 – Lucero 22, Dela Rosa 19, Lastimosa 18, Barroca 14, Sangalang 13, Andrada 13, Gomez de Liano 4, Tenorio 3, Verano 2, Koon 1, Alfaro 0, Laput 0.
Quarters: 32-16; 52-41; 81-73; 118-109.
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