TNT made a quick turnaround in the third quarter to overcome a 23-point deficit against Phoenix and pull off a 108-101 victory on Wednesday in the PBA 48th Season Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Tropang Giga outscored the Fuelmasters, 42-19, in the third period to wipe out a 62-39 deficit and improve to 5-4 following the gutsy victory.
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The quartet of Roger Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, Kelly Williams, and Kim Aurin spearheaded a TNT fightback in the third that turned a 42-62 halftime deficit into an 84-81 lead.
The win mirrored a similar comeback victory in Candon City, Ilocos Sur where TNT went on a 28-14 rampage in the fourth to beat NLEX, 104-101, after overcoming a 12-point deficit last April 13.
Phoenix dropped to 3-6, the sorry defeat hurting its quarterfinal bid.
Pogoy had 23 points and eight rebounds, while Oftana added 19 points and nine rebounds for the Tropang Giga. Williams produced 17-point, 13-rebound double-double while Aurin added 12 points and shot 3-of-6 from threes.
The four combined for 36 points in that telling third quarter.
“The most important thing at halftime was to make sure that we felt that we hadn’t given up yet,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes, "to make sure that the players were of the belief that we were still in the ballgame despite being down 20.
"And then, we just narrowed our focus.”
An Aurin three finally gave TNT the upper hand after a long chase, 76-75, for the first time since 16-14 in the first quarter. Pogoy also had seven points in the final quarter including a basket in the 3:34-mark for a 100-90 TNT advantage.
Jason Perkins had 26 points, but only had five in the second half no thanks to TNT’s defense. Jjay Alejandro added 16 points for the Fuelmasters.
TNT faces Converge on May 1 at the Philsports Arena, while Phoenix will only have a day's rest before taking on Meralco on Friday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The scores:
TNT 108 – Pogoy 23, Oftana 19, Williams 17, Aurin 12, Khobuntin 11, Castro 7, B. Ganuelas-Rosser 7, Montalbo 4, Reyes 3, Heruela 3, Ponferada 2, Ebona 0, M. Ganuelas-Rosser 0, Galinato 0.
Phoenix 101 – Perkins 26, Alejandro 16, Tuffin 13, Rivero 11, Salado 10, Jazul 8, Muyang 4, Mocon 4, Garcia 3, Daves 3, Soyud 2, Lalata 1, Verano 0, Camacho 0.
Quarters: 22-29; 42-62; 84-81; 108-101.
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