KELLY Williams nailed the go-ahead free throw with 6.8 seconds left and TNT kept alive its its grand slam bid, overcoming Magnolia, 89-88, on Wednesday in the PBA 49th Season Philippine Cup at the Philsports Arena.
Williams’ lone free throw was enough for the Tropang 5G to live and fight another day and force a knockout game against the twice-to-beat Hotshots for a semifinal berth on Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
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With Magnolia left with 2.9 seconds to work with for a game-winner, TNT came away with a defensive stop, denying Zavier Lucero an opening to take a clear shot.
It was a disappointing defeat for Magnolia, which was already up by 13 points before losing the lead thanks to the hot shooting of RR Pogoy.
Pogoy rescued TNT by scoring 30 points, including 22 in the second half. He buried a three and a running shot that put the Tropang 5G ahead, 78-77.
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Williams also drilled back-to-back threes and Calvin Oftana made a lay-up that put TNT ahead, 88-81, although Magnolia was able to tie the game on a four-pointer by Paul Lee with 37.1 seconds left.
Williams was fouled after an offensive rebound, opening up a chance for TNT to secure the crucial grind-out win.
More than the crucial baskets, TNT coach Chot Reyes said it was the team’s ability to lessen their turnovers that allowed the Tropang 5G to come back.
“We made a concerted effort to cut down our turnovers because the last game, we had 23, and we lead the league in fewest number of turnovers. It was very uncharacteristic for us,” said Reyes.
“We didn’t shoot well today but at least we were shooting and we are not turning the ball over. We still had too many, 18, but at least we cut that down. It was already 12 in the first half, we cut it down to half. And that’s what fueled our comeback,” said Reyes.
Oftana added 21 points, 16 rebounds, and three steals, and Williams had 12 points and seven rebounds. Ganuelas-Rosser had 10 points, six rebounds, and three assists in his return from a one-game suspension.
Lee had 15 points including a 2-of-5 clip from four, with Lucero scoring 14 points, his second-lowest scoring output of the conference, for the third-seeded Hotshots, who lost their twice-to-beat incentive with the defeat.
The scores:
TNT 89 – Pogoy 30, Oftana 21, Williams 12, Ganuelas-Rosser 10, Heading 10, Erram 4, Galinato 2, Heruela 0, Khobuntin 0, Aurin 0, Enciso 0, Varilla 0.
Magnolia 88 – Lee 15, Lucero 14, Navarro 14, Lastimosa 12, Sangalang 10, Dela Rosa 10, Barroca 6, Dionisio 4, Laput 2, Reavis 1, Alfaro 0.
Quarters: 18-22; 37-44; 61-65; 89-88.
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