By REYNALD MAGALLON
TNT breathed life to its flickering Grand Slam hopes after taking down San Miguel, 86-78, in Game 5 of the PBA season 49 Philippine Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, July 23.
The Tropang 5G went on a pivotal 13-0 rally early in the final frame to establish a double-digit spread that proved to be enough to weather the repeated rallies from the Beermen.
Six players scored in twin digits for TNT, which, for the first time in this series, finally outscored SMB in the fourth quarter to extend the Finals dance to a Game 6 at the PhilSports Arena on Friday, July 25.
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser led the Tropa with 18 points while Kelly Williams added 14 as the two more than made up for the absence of Poy Erram who was out with a hamstring injury he sustained in Game 4.
Calvin Oftana and Jordan Heading had 13 apiece while RR Pogoy and Almond Vosotros, who was a spark off the bench, had 11 apiece.
“I saw a lot fight,” Coach Chot Reyes said. “Just an unwillingness to give up. Our pregame talk was all about… This has been a very, very long season, and now we’re down to our final week, and I said let’s make this the best week.”
TNT took control of much of the contest though, SMB just like the first four games rallied back and threatened the Tropang 5G when it came within four, 55-59 early in the final frame.
If it was the TNT of the first four games playing, the team would have easily folded up right then and there. But the difference was this time, the Tropa retaliated with big run that put them on a comfortable lead, 72-55.
Jericho Cruz led San Miguel with 20 points but was not enough as the Beermen, for the first time in the series, were held to below 80 points.
The scores:
TNT 86 – Ganuelas-Rosser 18, Williams 14, Oftana 13, Heading 13, Vosotros 11, Pogoy 11, Aurin 4, Khobuntin 2, Heruela 0.
San Miguel 78 – Cruz 20, Lassiter 15, Fajardo 13, Tautuaa 9, Trollano 8, Ross 6, Perez 5, Rosales 2, Brondial 0, Teng 0, Tiongson 0.
Quarters: 27-20; 41-31; 59-53; 86-78.
