Tropang 5G turn back Gin Kings to equalize PBA Finals series

MANILA, Philippines -- All even. 

The TNT Tropang 5G  tied the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals after holding off Barangay Ginebra, 101-94, in Game 2 Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Calvin Oftana powered the Tropang 5G with 31 points to go with 10 rebounds. Chris McCullough added 19 markers and 16 boards, as well as four assists, three blocks and two steals. 

“We kept reminding the players in the huddle when we were up by big not to let their guards down because we all know the caliber of a team that Ginebra has. They'll always come back,” TNT head coach Chot Reyes said. 

“They got some good production from their bench, from [John Abis], from [Jeremiah] Gray and Isaac Go. Their second unit completely outplayed our second unit again for the second game in a row,” he added. 

TNT held a lead as high as 22 points, taking an 81-59 lead with 11:40 remaining after a triple by Oftana. 

The Tropang 5G maintained that advantage with huge shots, before Ginebra made it a single-point deficit with about four minutes remaining after a triple by RJ Abarrientos. 

A split from the line made it a 95-85 ballgame with 3:36 to go, but Abarrientos connected on another 3-pointer to make it a seven-point game, 88-95. 

Jordan Heading though retaliated with a triple of his own as TNT went further ahead, 98-88, with 2:34 left. 

Abarrientos, Abis and Justin Brownlee then hit back-to-back-to-back layups to make it a 94-98 contest with 58.6 seconds remaining.

After Ginebra secured a stop, Abis lost the ball on the other end. 

Calvin Oftana was then fouled by Abis on the drive, and his freebies kept the Gin Kings at bay, 100-94. 

After Brownlee missed a 4-point attempt, McCullough iced the game with a split from the line, which set the final score. 

Oftana, for his part, said the confidence and trust both from himself and his teammates boosted him for his season-high performance. 

“Yung kumpiyansa naman sa sarili palagi. So I think maganda lang yung tulog ngayon. Yung kumpiyansa naman sa sarili na yun. Hindi naman mabibigay ng mga kasama ko, ng mga coaches ko. Ang tiwala lang nila yung kailangan ko,” Oftana said. 

“And yung tiwala na yun, yun yung talagang nagpapa-boost sa akin na maglaro pa. I think I played another 40 minutes again. So pahinga lang and move forward na ulit sa Game 3,” he added. 

“Happy lang ako. Hindi naman kailangan talaga umiscore ng marami kung mananalo naman kayo. Pero right now lang talaga, maganda naman talaga tulog and maganda yung mga pasa ng mga kasama ko.” 

Heading added 14 points for TNT, while RR Pogoy, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Rey Nambatac all producing 10 apiece. 

Brownlee carried Ginebra with 24 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks, while Abarrientos had 21. 

A team will be going up 2-1 in the series with Game 3 set on Sunday, 7:30 p.m.