TNT forward Glenn Khobuntin embraced the ball like a precious gem after teammate Calvin Oftana deflected Magnolia wingman Rome Dela Rosa’s high-looping pass to Ian Sangalang inside that foiled the Hotshots’ final offensive thrust on a rainy Saturday night.
After the final buzzer sounded and the good-sized Tropang 5G fans at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium erupted in jubilation—and dejection for Magnolia supporters—coach Chot Reyes punched the air with his right fist, pointing at his charges’ faithful.
They just did the improbable.
GAMES TOMORROW
(Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay)
5 p.m. – TNT vs. Rain or Shine
7:30 p.m. – SMB vs. Ginebra
“We’re lucky Kelly (Williams) made those two free throws. If it went to overtime, I don’t know if we could have lasted an extra five minutes because, like I said, kulang na kulang kami sa tao. But I think the spirit of the players, their unwillingness to give up, I think was the key here,” Reyes said. “Kelly put himself in a position to get the offensive rebound. In the end, ganoon talaga kung hindi na rebound ni Kelly, wala tayo dito ngayon. We just go and try another day.
“But iyon din ang sinasabi palagi ni Roger (Pogoy), in life we’re always tested, right? But I think the critical play for Jordan (Heading) was the play before that, when the shot clock was winding down at nai-drop pass kay Roger. I think that showed a lot of poise. That was a broken play, that wasn’t by design or anything, it was just the players were playing,” he added.
Reyes spoke after TNT pulled off a scintillating 80-79 decision over Magnolia in their knockout quarterfinals duel and clinched a semifinals slot in the PBA Philippine Cup.
Williams, the 2008 MVP, boomed in two pressure-packed foul shots in the last 2.7 seconds off a foul from Hotshots’ 47-year-old center Rafi Reavis on a rebound play after a Heading miss four-pointer.
The Tropang 5G then shut the door on Magnolia in the final play and kept alive their grand slam bid alive and forged a semis showdown with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
Game 1 of the best-of-7 series is set for Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, with sister teams Ginebra and San Miguel Beer duking it out in the other Final Four clash.
“In the end, we always say that, the players are the ones who win the games,” Reyes said. “They make the decisions, they put in the effort, and sometimes we’re rewarded.”
Pogoy typified TNT’s no-quit character in the Last Eight with 18 points, seven rebounds, and five assists while scoring partner Calvin Oftana chimed in 18 markers, seven boards, and four dimes.
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Williams also had 12 and 10 points, respectively as the Tropang 5G did an encore to a similarly breathtaking 89-88 escape in their first tiff last week and complete the stunning ouster of the twice-to-beat Hotshots.
Except perhaps for their inner circle, Reyes and TNT have been counted out due to manpower woes due to injuries that have hounded them—the absence of key players Jayson Castro and Rey Nambatac and the fact that it’s an import-less tilt—no two-time best import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
But Reyes has managed to bring out the best of the cards he’s dealt with.
The 11-time champion tactician hopes it will be until the end of the conference and that they will be rewarded with the coveted but rare prize—the Triple Crown.
“Same thing in the semis, whoever it is that we play here, they’re all going to be very hungry,” he said. “They’re not going to give up so we have to be ready. There’s no other way.
“Hahanapan na lang namin ng paraan and whoever is healthy, we go with them. We go with whoever is healthy.”
