WITH an explosive first half and help from a video review at endgame, TNT took the opener of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Tropang 5G squandered a big 24-point lead but, with a lucky break in the end, salvaged a 99-96 decision over the San Miguel Beermen for the head start in the best-of-seven championship series.
Jordan Heading and RR Pogoy led a torrid TNT shooting through the first three quarters, but what would be remembered more was the nullification of a crucial Moala Tautuaa basket upon the review of the play during a break with 6.4 ticks left.
Game officials ruled Tautuaa committed a basketball offensive interference and thus restored a 97-96 edge for the Tropang 5G before a jump-ball between Heading and Chris Ross.
Then at play resumption, Ross miss-timed his jump, allowing the Tropa to win possession and subsequently the game, shoving to the dustbin San Miguel's amazing comeback.
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Not to be discounted, though, was TNT's effort.
Amazing was RR Pogoy's return from a four-game layoff, with the Cebuano hotshots rifling in three three-pointers and two four-balls to highlight a 23-point sizzler in just 18 minutes of action.
Heading had his big contribution although adding just two from his 17-point first-half explosion.
Calvin Oftana chipped in 13 markers including two free throws that made it 99-96 in the last 3.6 seconds while Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser also had 13 spiked by a two-handed jam that ended their seven-minute scoreless spell in the fourth.
June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez were the main drivers in their fiery fourth-quarter siege with the former piling up 26 points and 15 rebounds and the latter logging 19 markers and 11 boards.
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Perez had a chance to send the game into overtime but missed a three-point try at the buzzer.
After starting the game with two missed field-goal attempts and two turnovers, the Tropang 5G hit their stride, zooming to a lead as big as 22 before taking the half at 61-41.
TNT waxed hot with a smashing 51.2-percent opening-half field shooting including 9-of-17 three-pointers and 3-of-4 four-balls - the last being a shocker at the buzzer from Pogoy.
Except for their early jitters, the Tropang 5G had a tremendous display of torrid shooting that netted a 45-5 advantage in perimeter points for TNT.
Heading had 17 points including three treys and one conversion from the four-point area while Pogoy had a 15-point first-half juggernaut marked by 2-of-2 four-pointers.(SB)
The Scores :
TNT 99 - Pogoy 23, Heading 19, Oftana 13, Ganuelas-Rosser 13, Williams 9, Erram 9, Enciso 6, Khobuntin 5, Heruela 2, Aurin 0.
SAN MIGUEL 96 - Fajardo 26, Perez 19, Trollano 13, Tautuaa 10, Cruc 8, Ross 7, Lassiter 7, Tiongson 4, Brondial 2, Teng 0, Rosales 0.
QUARTERS: 28-22, 61-41, 85-66, 99-96
