MANILA, Philippines — Filipino boy group TNT Boys fell short to earn a spot at the finals of American talent competition “World’s Best.”
The trio, discovered in “It’s Showtime’s” Tawag ng Tanghalan, was pitted against other international artists, Vonnie Lopez & The High Praise Choir and Naturally 7.
The group’s members, Keifer Sanchez, Mackie Empuerto, and Francis Concepcion, had a “flawless” version of Jessie J’s “Flashlight,” according to judge Drew Barrymore, but Naturally 7’s emotional version of Coldplay’s “Fix You” made the cut to the finals.
“There is no flaw in one note. When you have a show called ‘World’s Best’ that’s a very high bar to set, and you guys just reach it every time, if not surpass it,” Drew said.
The American judges gave TNT Boys a score of 49 percent, higher than they gave to Naturally 7, with 43 percent. Nonetheless, only 18 juries of the 50 Wall of the World judges voted for the TNT Boys, as compared to 32 for the a cappella-style singers.
Naturally 7 took home a $50,000 prize for being the champion of their division and will move up to the show’s finals set next week.