TNT is over .500 after a cardiac finish against NLEX in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup.
Calvin Oftana came up big in the fourth period as TNT recovered from a double-digit deficit to edge NLEX, 104-101, in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup on Saturday, April 13, at the Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur.
Oftana dropped 13 points in a furious 17-6 rally that wiped out an early 78-89 deficit, before Jayson Castro and RR Pogoy delivered the final haymakers as the Tropang Giga got their first back-to-back wins of the conference for a 4-3 win-loss record.
Calvin finished with a career-high tying 37 points, which also came with 12 rebounds and six assists.
After Oftana’s triple tied the count at 95-all with 6:40 remaining, Castro scored five straight points as TNT gained a 100-99 upper hand for the first time since the opening period.
However, Robert Bolick didn’t want to just fold after that furious comeback by TNT, atoning for an early errant pass with a floater to regain the lead, 101-100.
But RR Pogoy nailed a three ball on top of the key that gave TNT the lead for good, before Glenn Khobuntin iced it with a split from the foul line. Bolick fluffed a potential game-tying triple at the buzzer.
Pogoy had 21 points to go with seven rebounds, while Castro added 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists for TNT.
Khobuntin added 11 points, as the Tropang Giga also put the Road Warriors' four-game winning run to a screeching halt.
Robbie Herndon topscored for NLEX with 25 points on five triples, while Bolick fired 23 points that went with five rebounds, seven assists, and a steal. Mike Miranda also came up big with 17 points, but the Road Warriors absorbed their second loss in seven games.