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| Calvin Oftana remains consistent for third-seeded TNT. PBA Images |
QUEZON CITY—TNT secured the last twice-to-beat advantage for the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals after spoiling LA Tenorio's first game playing for Magnolia with a 94-83 win on Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Tropang 5G quickly found a way to diffuse the Hotshots, who decided to start their playing head coach amid injuries to Jerom Lastimosa and Paul Lee, and raced to a 27-20 lead at the end of the first quarter.
TNT even extended its lead to 19, 70-51, with five minutes left in the third quarter.
Needing to win by at least 13 points to steal the Top 4 finish in the eliminations, Magnolia crawled back and came to within four, 74-78, with 7:17 left in the fourth quarter.
However, an 8-2 Tropang 5G run afterward doused cold water on the Hotshots' comeback attempt.
Jordan Heading led TNT, which will enter the Christmas quarterfinals as the third seed, with 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-4 on twos and 3-for-4 on fours, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Calvin Oftana added 17 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks.
Zav Lucero led Magnolia, which could still end up facing TNT again in the quarterfinals with a Ginebra win against Titan Ultra later Sunday, with 17 points, nine rebounds, one assist, three blocks, and one steal.
Ian Sangalang added 12 points, 11 rebounds, and two assists, while Yukien Andrada came close to his own double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds in a solid PBA debut fresh from San Beda's NCAA championship.
Tenorio tallied four points, two rebounds, and three assists in 13 minutes of action.
The Scores:
TNT 94 – Heading 23, Oftana 17, Nambatac 11, Williams 11, Pogoy 10, Ganuelas-Rosser 9, Jalalon 7, Galinato 4, Khobuntin 2, Ferrer 0, Aurin 0
MAGNOLIA 83 – Lucero 17, Barroca 16, Sangalang 12, Andrada 12, Gomez de Liano 9, Dela Rosa 6, Alfaro 5, Tenorio 4, Koon 2, Verano 0, Laput 0, Escoto 0
QUARTERS: 27-20, 47-38, 74-62, 94-83
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