There were 12 seconds left in overtime of Game 7. The battle for the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup was going right down to the wire.
TNT Tropang Giga import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had the ball--and he was immediately swarmed by four Barangay Ginebra players. He had to pass, and on his left was Calvin Oftana at the corner.
It was not the cleanest of passes. It was short. But Oftana chased after it, picked up the ball, and blew past Japeth Aguilar for a lay-up.
TNT in the lead, 87-83, with 6.3 seconds left before the end of it all.
Oftana went to the TNT bench, saw his fellow Cebuano RR Pogoy, and cradled his head as he spoke.
Six point three seconds away from the title.
He then closed his eyes and took a deep breath as people patted him. Finally, Oftana exhaled, beating his chest to loosen the tension.
Six point three seconds.
"If you're TNT, you have to foul," commentator Mark Molina said.
History was on the side of Barangay Ginebra in these clutch situations.
Just a few minutes ago, super import Justin Brownlee put up a three-pointer with 16 seconds left to force overtime.
It was in the same place that JB put up THE SHOT over Allen Durham to win it all for Barangay Ginebra in the 2016 Governors' Cup finals.
And just in Game 6 a few days ago, it was guard Scottie Thompson who was able to pull up a three in the final 12 seconds that gave Ginebra a chance to win the ball game.
"Scottie was able to put up a prayer, because TNT refused to foul," commentator Carlo Pamintuan pointed out. "Will they do it again?"
"You can't give up a four if you're TNT. So you have to foul," insisted Molina.
With 6.3 seconds left, their only chance to survive was a four-point shot--which was implemented by the PBA this season.
As expected, Ginebra got it to Brownlee. He actually had a clear shot after faking out Oftana.
But this time, history would not be kind. He missed, and TNT won the title.
Why didn't the Tropang Giga foul Brownlee, who is known to be mostly clutch in those situations?
"I was really not confident with our ability to get the ball in and make free throws," TNT coach Chot Reyes told One PH's Power & Play the morning after Game 7.
The conference's Best Import RHJ could barely run at that point, Reyes noted. Eventual Finals MVP Rey Nambatac was cramping up.
[ALSO READ: Finals MVP Rey Nambatac honors mentor Castro: 'It was all about Kuya Jayson']
"Sabi ko, 'if we do the fouling game, kailangan nakaka-inbound tayo and nakaka-shoot tayo ng free throw.' Eh si Rondae, walang-wala na talaga eh. Wala na siyang legs, wala na siyang lakas at all. Same thing with Rey," Reyes pointed out.
"So sabi ko, 'we have to take our chances dito.'"
[ALSO READ: PBA: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson plays through pain in TNT’s conquest of Ginebra]
It was a decision not made purely on a hunch.
In overtime, Brownlee was not able to make a single shot. He missed one and made three turnovers.
Ginebra made five attempts at a four-point play. All of them were misses. Three tries came from JB.
"Napansin ko, pagod na rin si Justin," Reyes noted. "In overtime, wala na rin siyang na-shoot eh. So sabi ko, 'tingin ko pagod na 'to so maybe we can take our chances there.'"
It also helped Reyes that he was familiar with Ginebra coach Tim Cone's style. After all, they have a long history working together for Alaska as well as in Gilas Pilipinas.
"Alam ko 'yung style ni Tim sa gano'n, he will trap first eh," referring to how four Ginebra players ran to defend RHJ. "Kaya nawala 'yung bola kay Rondae, apat 'yung bantay niya. Buti na lang, kay Calvin Oftana napunta."
It also took the incredible grit from the TNT Tropang Giga. With Hollis-Jefferson barely able to jump and run as he struggled with pain, it was the Bisaya-speaking contingent of Oftana, Nambatac, Poy Erram, and Glenn Khobuntin who pulled through in overtime.
[ALSO READ: Sobrang Bisaya: TNT players speak on how sharing same language helps on-court chemistry]
RHJ made 25 points overall, but missed all of his shots in overtime. Nambatac made 22 overall, Khobuntin chipped in 14--including a cold-blooded three in OT, Oftana had 10, Erram had two clutch FTs in the extra period.
[ALSO READ: Clutch Glenn Khobuntin proves there’s more to him than just defense in TNT's Game 7 win]
It also took a little prayer.
"Hindi naman kami mananalo kung wala kaming tulong sa taas," Reyes said. That was not of our own power alone."
The coach recounted how March 28 was also the anniversary of his father's death and sent up a prayer, "Tulungan mo kami dito."
"Talagang 'yung mga ganung pangyayari, you know we have to admit 'di naman namin matatalo yung Ginebra kung walang konting tulong sa taas, 'yung konting swerte na 'yon."
"Our effort put us in that position, gave us that chance."
[ALSO READ: Chot Reyes, TNT brace for herculean task of netting rare PBA grand slam]