MONTALBAN, Rizal - TNT barely averted an upset on Friday, needing overtime to beat Terrafirma, 109-95, in the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center II.
The Tropang 5G found a way to extend their winning streak to four after being down by as many as 16 points in the game, thus joining Rain or Shine at the top of the standings with a 5-1 win-loss record.
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The Tropang 5G scored 10 unanswered points including a pair of threes from Kelly Williams to start overtime. The 43-year old's late barrage preserved Jio Jalalon's crucial role in the Tropang 5G comeback win.
Williams hit another three to make it a 105-95 ballgame.
TNT coach Chot Reyes, however, wasn’t happy with the team’s effort after the Tropang 5G fell behind, 51-35.
“I really believe in sports, sometimes when you lose, you really win. And sometimes, when you win, you really lose. And I think this is one of the times,” said Reyes.
“The scoreboard showed we won but we really lost this game in my mind. Terrafirma completely outplayed us. We had no energy. We had no urgency and we were lucky that Kelly bailed us out.
"If Kelly didn’t hit those three-pointers, I don’t think I’ll be sitting here right now,” Reyes added during the postgame press conference.
Terrafirma lost for the fourth straight time to fall to 1-5 despite forcing overtime, 92-92, on two free throws by Jerrick Ahanmisi with 23.1 seconds left in regulation.
Williams drained a three-pointer with 45.1 seconds left in regulation for a 92-90 lead, Jalalon made a stop on the next play, and TNT looked headed for the outright victory until Pogoy fouled Ahanmisi after a missed three with the Tropang 5G in penalty.
Ahanmisi calmly sank two free throws, with Terrafirma getting a reprieve after Calvin Oftana and Rey Nambatac missed their attempts to end the fourth period.
Ahanmisi finished with 26 points and Brent Paraiso had 13 points and 11 assists for Terrafirma.
The scores:
TNT 109 – Williams 28, Pogoy 21, Oftana 15, Nambatac 14, Jalalon 7, Ferrer 6, Ganuelas-Rosser 6, Heading 5, Khobuntin 5, Galinato 2, Nieto 0, Enciso 0, Aurin 0.
Terrafirma 95 – Ahanmisi 26, Paraiso 13, Mariano 10, Sangalang 10, Hernandez 7, Bravo 7, Zaldivar 7, Rivero 5, Olivario 4, Hanapi 3, Catapusan 3.
Quarters: 16-20; 35-49; 67-74; 92-92; 109-95.
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