TNT gets its shot at a rare grand slam after closing out Rain or Shine in Game Six, 97-89, on Sunday night in the PBA 49th Season Philippine Cup semifinals at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Tropang 5G went on a telling 10-0 run behind baskets by Jordan Heading, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, and Calvin Oftana to break an 80-80 deadlock on their way to ending the best-of-seven semifinal series in six games.
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With the victory, TNT put itself four wins away from a grand slam and a place in PBA history against either Barangay Ginebra or San Miguel, who will play a Game 7 on Wednesday at the Big Dome to decide their own semifinals playoff.
Things got heated at the final 18-second mark of the game when Jhonard Clarito, Andrei Caracut, Ganuelas-Rosser, and Glenn Khobuntin were called for technical fouls for a verbal altercation.
Heading finished with 29 points including nine in the fourth quarter, while Ganuelas-Rosser chipped in 17 points, six coming in the fourth. The TNT duo bounced back after scoring just seven points combined in Game 5.
Oftana had 12 points and started the fourth-quarter blitz with a three-point play with 3:53 left in the fourth.
“As you saw today, these guys, they do not know the meaning of quit. They just keep on fighting. As long as you keep fighting, you give yourself a chance,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes.
TNT reasserted its mastery of Rain or Shine after sweeping all their semifinal series this season, though the Philippine Cup was the closest the Elasto Painters got to turning the table on their nemesis.
Caelan Tiongson had 30 points and six rebounds, while Andrei Caracut added 15 points for the Elasto Painters, who still held a 63-57 lead late in the third quarter.
The scores:
TNT 97 – Heading 29, Ganuelas-Rosser 17, Khobuntin 16, Aurin 13, Oftana 12, Heruela 5, Enciso 3, Erram 2, Varilla 0, Vosotros 0, Galinato 0.
Rain or Shine 89 – Tiongson 30, Caracut 15, Nocum 11, Mamuyac 9, Clarito 8, Asistio 7, Santillan 4, Malonzo 3, Datu 2, Norwood 0.
Quarters: 28-27; 47-50; 69-70; 97-89.
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