The TNT Tropang 5G will head into the quarterfinals of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup with a twice-to-beat advantage, after a 94-83 win against the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots on Sunday night, December 21, at the Araneta Coliseum.

The hard-earned win gave the Tropang 5G an 8-3 win-loss record and the third seed in the quarterfinals.

It remains to be seen who they will play in the first phase of the playoffs, but TNT has strong momentum after ending the elimination round with three straight victories.

The Tropang 5G’s victory also spoiled LA Tenorio’s stint as a playing coach for the Hotshots.

Magnolia had activated Tenorio from its reserve list after star guard Paul Lee was sidelined by a hamstring injury in their loss to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in Bahrain.

Lee joined Jerom Lastimosa on the bench, with the latter suffering an ankle sprain also against the Elasto Painters.

Tenorio wound up starting for Magnolia, but he couldn’t keep the Hotshots from falling behind, 20-27, after the opening period. The Tropang 5G would go on to lead by as many as 19 points, 70-51, in the third quarter.

A flurry of buckets from rookie Yukien Andrada got them within four points, 78-74, with still over seven minutes to go, but TNT responded with big shots from Jordan Heading, Henry Galinato and Calvin Oftana to restore order.

A corner triple from Oftana made it a double-digit lead once more, 86-76, and the Hotshots faded from there.

Heading made 8-of-11 shots — including three four-point baskets — on his way to 23 points before fouling out in the final minute. Oftana finished with 17 points and nine boards.

Zavier Lucero had 17 points and nine rebounds for the Hotshots, while Andrada scored 12 markers and grabbed nine boards in his PBA debut.

Tenorio had four points and three assists in a 13-minute stint for Magnolia.

The loss gave the Hotshots a 6-5 win-loss record to finish the elimination round. (ABS-CBN News)