Calvin Oftana’s hot hands powered the TNT Tropang 5G past the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, 118-109, in their PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup quarterfinals encounter on Saturday, December 27, at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The Tropang 5G maximized their twice-to-beat bonus in the series, getting the job done in just one game to advance to the semifinals, also their fourth straight.
TNT was only the second team to advance after the San Miguel Beermen, as the rest of the quarterfinals matchups went to sudden deaths. They will be facing the winner of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters-Meralco Bolts series.
Oftana shot 5-of-6 from the arc, totaling 25 points to lead all scorers, to go with five assists, earning Player of the Game honors.
“Our outside shooting — if it’s there, then it’s a big bonus for us,” coach Chot Reyes uttered during the postgame press conference.
The first two quarters became a story of runs, as TNT set the tone early, wrapping up the opening frame with an 11-1 run for a 32-16 lead, and also boasted a 27-point cushion at one point, 49-22. However, the Hotshots also had their moment, firing a 19-3 run before the end of the first half to keep themselves within 11, 52-41.
Magnolia eventually pulled within six, 79-73, thanks to playing coach LA Tenorio and Yukien Andrada’s makes from the rainbow country, but Oftana and Jordan Heading were there to hold off their rivals and keep the lead up.
Heading chipped in 21 points, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser added 15 points and nine rebounds, while RR Pogoy had 14 markers for the winning cause.
Meanwhile, Tenorio saw his first conference as playing coach end with a quarterfinal exit. The hardworking Zav Lucero lived up to his billing with 22 points and 13 rebounds, but for the losing effort. (ABS-CBN News)
TNT 118 — Oftana 25, Heading 21, Ganuelas-Rosser 15, Pogoy 14, Aurin 9, Williams 8, Nambatac 8, Jalalon 7, Galinato 7, Khobuntin 4, Ferrer 0, Enciso 0.
MAGNOLIA 109 — Lucero 22, Dela Rosa 19, Lastimosa 18, Barroca 14, Sangalang 13, Andrada 13, Gomez de Liaño 4, Tenorio 3, Verano 2, Koon 1, Alfaro 0, Laput 0.
Quarterscores: 32-16, 52-41, 81-73, 118-109.