Tropang 5G turn back Bolts to zoom in on finals berth

MANILA, Philippines -- One win away from the finals. 

The TNT Tropang 5G have one foot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals after pulling away late from the Meralco Bolts, 103-95, in Game 5 of their series Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

Chris McCullough poured in 42 points and 11 rebounds, to go with two assists and a steal, in the victory. Jordan Heading backstopped with 22 markers and six dimes , while RR Pogoy had 16 points. 

“Our key coming to this game was our defensive game plan was to get good shots because the last game we had so many turnovers and we gave up 26 points of turnovers. So you cannot defend a turnover, that's very hard. So for us to help our defense, we had to make sure that we get good shots,” TNT head coach Chot Reyes said after the game. 

“That means we're taking shots. We're not throwing the ball or turning the ball over. And I think that's what happened in the fourth quarter, we got good shots. We didn't make everything but the key was if we're able to get good shots, we prevent Meralco from running the fast break where they're very deadly,” he added. 

The game was tight through the final quarter as neither team could pull away. 

A triple by Patrick Garner tied things up at 83-all, before three free throws from Heading gave TNT the 86-83 lead. 

The ballgame then turned to the MCCullough show. He scored 12 of the Tropang 5G’s final 15 points as he kept Meralco at bay. 

And while Cliff Hodge tried to keep the Bolts in the game, final touches by Heading helped ice the victory for TNT. 

“We finally got into a nice groove with Bol Bol figuring out how to play with him. And then suddenly we lost him. So we knew there was going to be a period of adjustment [with McCullough],” Reyes said. 

“He played the last game, he just had two practices with us. So now he's had the benefit of a game and an extra practice. So he just gets acclimatized with his teammates on what we want to do. But also just getting back to the stream of things here in the PBA,” he added. 

“You know this is a tough league. This is a tough league. So I thought we were able to do a good job of pacing him in the first half. And he had legs in the fourth quarter. And that's all we needed. We get good shots. Give Chris good looks. And that helps our defense tremendously.” 

Calvin Oftana added 12 points for TNT. 

Gardner powered Meralco with 25 points, 12 rebounds, two steals, two blocks and an assist. Chris Banchero and Cliff Hodge had 12 markers each. 

The Tropang 5G will try to stamp their ticket to the finals in the crucial Game 6 on Sunday at 7:30 p.m.