The TNT Tropang 5G kept its title defense alive in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup, fending off the NLEX Road Warriors, 118-112, in their do-or-die quarterfinal game on Saturday, May 16, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The Tropang 5G entered the quarterfinals as the eighth seed but defeated the top-seeded Road Warriors in back-to-back games to advance to the last four of the tournament.

Bol Bol led the way with 35 points and 13 rebounds, while Roger Pogoy added 21 points in the win.

TNT led by as many as 22 points, 112-90, off a Bol jumper midway through the final quarter.

The Road Warriors mounted a last-ditch effort, getting within 11 points, 112-101, off a four-pointer by Schonny Winston with still three and a half minutes to play.

But Bol and Jayson Castro converted clutch buckets to keep NLEX at bay, and the Road Warriors ran out of time to complete their comeback.

It was a disappointing result for the Road Warriors, who had clinched the top seed in the elimination round with a 10-2 win-loss record, and entered the playoffs on the heels of a four-game winning streak.

They were outlasted by TNT in their first game, however, and the Tropang 5G completed the job in the decider.

Cady Lalanne had 46 points and 15 rebounds in a losing effort for NLEX, while Winston finished with 24 points. Robert Bolick was limited to 16 points and six assists.

TNT will now play the Meralco Bolts in a best-of-7 semifinal series. (ABS-CBN News)