By REYNALD MAGALLON
Call it luck or simply break of the game but it seemed like the basketball gods were smiling upon TNT and its Grand Slam bid.
The Tropang 5G squandered a huge 24-point lead and made sure to not waste the big break it got in the endgame to pull off a 99-96 escape of the San Miguel Beermen in Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, July 13.
TNT came out firing on all cylinders in the first half as it built a lead to as high as 24 before weathering a huge fourth quarter storm from SMB.
Things were actually not looking good for the Tropang 5G as the Beermen took a crucial one-point lead, 97-96, after a Mo Tautuaa dunk that hit the rim, bounced to the air, and then went in with 56.1 seconds left.
However, after a review of the play, the basket was rescinded after Tautuaa was called with an offensive interference – much to the frustration of the San Miguel officials led by governor Robert Non who even confronted the technical committee at the end of the contest.
Back with the lead, 96-95, TNT made sure to seal the game with Calvin Oftana scoring two crucial free throws and then forcing CJ Perez to a contested three-pointer that barely graced the rim.
RR Pogoy announced his return with 23 points in just 18 minutes of play while Jordan Heading fired 17 of his 19 points in the first half where TNT enjoyed a 61-41 lead.
The lead ballooned to 67-43 late in the third before the Beermen came alive in the final frame. SMB unloaded a searing 19-0 run to suddenly take the driver’s seat, 93-92, with 2:11 left.
The two teams traded baskets before the supposed Tautuaa basket that could have given SMB the advantage in the waning seconds.
June Mar Fajardo led SMB with 26 points and 15 rebounds while CJ Perez added own double-double of 19 points and 17 rebounds.
PBA technical committee affirms decision
The PBA technical committee affirmed its decision to call a controversial offensive basket interference on Mo Tautuaa’s dunk attempt.
In a press conference, which was only made to address the matter, league deputy commissioner Eric Castro confirmed that it was the right call to make following a review of the play that occurred with 56.1 seconds left in the game.
Castro cited a section in the PBA rulebook as the basis of the call.
“Interference occurs during a shot when an offensive player causes the backboard to vibrate or grasp the basket in such a way that, in the judgement of the official, the ball has been caused to enter the basket,” the rule read.
According to Castro, Tautuaa pulled the rim as the ball bounced off it before going in.
“Mo dunked the last 56 seconds, nahila niya yung ring pagbaba. But the contention of the coaching staff was yung bola was straight and entered the ring. Regardless kung may tamaan siya na part ng ring, the fact na nahila niya yung ring pagbaba is a violation of the rule. Considered as an offensive basket interference,” stressed Castro.
