CALVIN Oftana stepped up big-time when another injury struck TNT, powering the team to a 113-105 overtime victory over Rain or Shine Friday and a commanding 2-0 lead in their PBA Philippine Cup semifinals matchup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Oftana scored 39 points, highlighted by three pressure-packed free throws that forced OT and seven in the extra five minutes that enabled the Tropang 5G to withstand the sidelining of Roger Pogoy due to a suspected hamstring injury.
Kelly Williams, Jordan Heading and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser led those who played big roles as TNT followed up its 98-91 decision in the best-of-seven series' opener just two days prior.
The Tropa can put the Elasto Painters into a deeper hole when the duel shifts over to the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.
Oftana, who also had nine rebounds, said they'll keep on taking it one game at a time. "Hindi pa ito tapos, wala pa kaming napatunayan," he maintained. "We're not done yet so we'll keep moving forward."
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Coach Chot Reyes could only heave a big sigh of relief following the game that saw his team trail by as many as 18 points, lead by as many as 14, only to get bailed out by Oftana, both in the last 7.7 seconds of regulation and in OT.
"It's the refusal to give up. If you don't give up then you give yourself a chance," said Reyes, before adding: "This guy (Oftana) gave us a chance when he made those three free throws."
Heading wound up with 13 points and 11 assists with Williams and Ganuelas-Rosser combining for 17 points and 22 rebounds.
Pogoy, who notched 28 points in Game 1, seemed to be well on his way to another big scoring night when he racked up 11, on a 5-of-7 clip from the field, right in the opening quarter. But he suffered the injury early in the second period and was deemed unable to continue.
The absence of Pogoy clearly told on TNT's game as it fell behind by as much as 23-41 before managing to get its act together and leading by 90-76.
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Rain or Shine would not fade so quickly as in Game 1 this time, however, with Caelan Tiongson and Adrian Nocum hooking up for a 15-0 counter that even wrested the lead back for the E-Painters.
Coach Yeng Guiao's charges even went up by 99-96 following a nifty reverse by Jhonard Clarito, but the E-Painters' elation proved short-lived when Oftana canned those game-tying charities off an ill-advised Gian Mamuyac foul.
Clarito tied the game for the third and last time at 101, but Oftana and Williams boomed in a triple each during an 8-0 run that gave TNT full control of the match.
Nocum finished with 27 points, Tiongson 18 and Mamuyac and Clarito 16 apiece for Rain or Shine.(NC)
The Scores (OT):
TNT 113 - Oftana 39, Heading 13, Pogoy 11, Williams 9, Ganuelas-Rosser 8, Nieto 7, Aurin 7, Vosotros 6, Erram 6, Khobuntin 4, Enciso 3.
RAIN OR SHINE 105- Nocum 27, Tiongson 18, Mamuyac 16, Clarito 16, Santillan 7, Caracut 6, Norwood 6, Asistio 3, Ildefonso 2, Datu 2, Malonzo 2.
QUARTERS: 21-25, 50-52, 78-70, 99-99, 113-105
