TNT survives ROS's endgame scare in final PBA game for 2021

Mikey Williams exploded anew for the Tropang Giga. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Prior to the start of the fourth quarter of its PBA Governors' Cup game against TNT, Rain Or Shine was whistled for a technical foul after Javee Mocon did not tell the table officials that he is returning to the match.

Mikey Williams made the technical free throw, and it turned out to be the point the Tropang Giga would cling on to after the Elasto Painters made a rally in the end.

TNT survived ROS's gallant stand for a 95-92 win in the last league game for the calendar year 2021 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Down by as much as 15 points in the second quarter, the Tropang Giga turned the tides in the third quarter, outscoring the E-Painters, 33-18 to take a 77-65 lead.

Williams then made the technical free throw as TNT began the final frame with its biggest lead at 13, 78-65.

But ROS slowly crawled back to the game and was within just one, 92-93, with 43.6 seconds remaining.

The team even had a chance to steal the game after Mocon secured the rebound off a Jayson Castro floater miss, giving them 27 seconds to retake the lead.

Rey Nambatac missed a tough layup attempt against two TNT defenders, but Henry Walker grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled by Brian Heruela, giving ROS 11.6 seconds for its second chance.

Despite running out of timeouts, Walker was found wide open for a three-point attempt, but the import back-rimmed the shot and Poy Erram gave the Tropang Giga enough breathing room with two free throws with two seconds left.

Walker was forced to take a long heave that did not even hit the rim as time expired.

Williams finished with 25 points, five rebounds, and six assists to lead TNT, which moved up to the eighth place at 2-2.

RR Pogoy added 18 points, four rebounds, two steals, and one block, while Aaron Fuller put up 13 points, 10 rebounds, one assist, two blocks, and one steal in his TNT debut.

Walker made 32 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and three steals to lead ROS, which fell to the ninth spot at 2-3.

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