The TNT Tropang 5G bounced back with a dominant win over the San Miguel Beermen, 110-87, to tie the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals at 2-2. In front of a lively crowd in Pasay City, TNT displayed control from start to finish, setting a new momentum in the series.
Calvin Oftana led the offense with his 29 points, featuring five threes, six rebounds, and four steals. Also important were the contributions of Jordan Heading with 17 points and six assists, and Rey Nambatac with 13 points, while the entire team displayed balanced scoring and disciplined defense.
According to coach Chot Reyes, the key is a consistent offense and a complete game in 48 minutes to defeat a powerhouse like San Miguel. This became clear in the first quarter when TNT scored consecutive points, causing the Beermen to lose.
TNT extended its lead before halftime after shooting nearly 60 percent from the field, and finally broke the game open in the third quarter with the help of timely three-pointers. Despite 18 points and 16 rebounds from June Mar Fajardo, San Miguel lacked offense and consistency.
As the series heads into a best-of-three showdown, attention will be on the condition of RR Pogoy, who has been injured again. However, TNT is confident that it can continue its explosive start and team-first mindset in the next match—a Finals that is heating up.
