The TNT Tropang 5G have completed their upset of the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots to advance into the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.

Kelly Williams hit two clutch foul shots to allow the Chot Reyes-led squad to seal their Season 49 Quarterfinals Game 2 80-79 victory, in their clash at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila on a rainy Saturday night, June 21.

Williams, who also hit crucial free throws in Game 1 to force the do-or-die clash, finished with a 10-point, 10-rebound game, while RR Pogoy and Calvin Oftana led TNT with 18 markers each to eliminate the third-seeded Hotshots.

“Believe it or not, I kind of expected it because we have a very short rotation,” said Reyes of the Tropang 5G, who struggled to make baskets in the endgame.

“I was just telling the players to just hold on.”

“Just defend as well as we can, and we’re lucky Kelly made those two free throws,” he added.

TNT saw itself down 79-78 with only five seconds left in the game, and this was after they fired blanks in the fourth canto despite leading earlier, 74-67.

Jordan Heading then attempted a four-pointer with only three ticks left on the game clock, and while he missed his shot, Williams got himself fouled to earn the trip at the 15-foot stripe.

“The spirit of the players, their unwillingness to give up was the key here,” commended Williams and the rest of the Tropang 5G as they kept their Grand Slam bid alive.

The sixth-seeded TNT is now awaiting the victory between the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the NLEX Road Warriors, who are currently battling as of press time.

As for Magnolia, Zav Lucero topscored with 15 markers on top of 10 boards, Ian Sangalang provided 14 points and seven rebounds, while Jerom Lastimosa and Aris Dionisio scored 13 and 12, respectively.

Unfortunately for the Hotshots, they were not able to take advantage of their win-one incentive as they entered the playoffs as the No. 3 team. (ABS-CBN News)