Bol gets support from locals as TNT nips NLEX

MANILA, Philippines -- In games, especially in high-stake ones, it is expected that the import will step up for a team.

For the TNT Tropang 5G, former NBA stud Bol Bol has been doing that the entire PBA Commissioner's Cup. He has consistently led the TNT Tropang 5G in scoring. 

However, the locals usually do not replicate such scoring outbursts.

On Wednesday’s do-or-die quarterfinal match with the NLEX Road Warriors, Jayson Castro, RR Pogoy and Calvin Oftana provided ample support to Bol, who finished with 34 points.

The three were instrumental in TNT’s victory over the top-seeded NLEX squad, 96-93, that went down the wire.

Oftana backstopped the import with 19 points and five rebounds, while Pogoy had 15 markers. Castro added 14 points in a night when he joined the shortlist of players who reached 10,000 PBA career points

“Yeah, I think this is the first game the whole conference that those three other guys were in double figures. Hindi magsabay-sabay na maganda ang laro ni Calvin, Roger and Jayson e, who are really our three bets, our three mainstays,” TNT head coach Chot Reyes told reporters after the game.

“This is the first time the three of them got off to a double figure output, so as long as we can get that help around Bol, then we can give ourselves better chances of winning,” he added.

The game was tight through the first three quarters, with the Road Warriors trailing by four, 72-76,heading to the fourth.

But an 8-2 run capped by an Oftana layup pushed TNT’s lead to 10, 84-74, but NLEX closed the gap to just four, 84-88, with about five minutes remaining.

Castro, then, answered with a triple of his own off the assist by Pogoy to keep the Road Warriors at bay, 91-84.

And while NLEX was able to tie things up at 93-all with 1:24 to go after a split from the line by Cady Lalanne, it was Bol who put the finishing touches in the victory.

Bol made three free throws down the stretch and defended Lalanne’s game-tying attempt from deep to secure the victory.

“Yun nga, pinag-usapan namin na kung gusto naming umusad sa next level, kailangan talagang mag-step up kaming lahat… Kailangang akuhin namin ang responsibilidad,” Pogoy said.

“Buti na lang gumana tonight.”

Six NLEX players finished in double figures, led by Lalanne who had 17 points, 15 rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block. Robert Bolick added 15 in almost 30 minutes of play before fouling out, while Xyrus Torres and LJay Gonzales had 14 and 13, respectively.

Anthony Semerad and Schonny Winston had 11 and 10 as well.

The win-or-go-home quarterfinal matchup will be on Saturday, 7:30 p.m., at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.