MANILA, Philippines — Second seed TNT started like a house on fire, while playing without let up on the defensive end to oust Magnolia, 118-109 and join San Miguel Beer in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Roger Pogoy, Kelly Williams and Jordan Heading joined hands in the Tropang 5G’s 32-16 first quarter lead, an advantage they held on amid the Hotshots’ attempted rally in the second half.
The Tropang 5G marched into the Final Four and will meet the winner of the other quarterfinal pairing between Meralco and Rain or Shine.
The Bolts manhandled the Elasto Painters, 96-79 in the first game to force a rubber match.
Calvin Oftana supplied the ammunition in the last three quarters to lead TNT in scoring with 25 points, spiked by five triples.
Heading added 21, while Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser flirted with a double-double with 15 and nine boards.
Pogoy wound up with 14 for TNT, which missed the grand slam last season after bowing to San Miguel Beer in the Philippine Cup Finals.
TNT ruled the Commissioner’s Cup and Governors’ Cup last season.
Magnolia saw its title drive under rookie playing coach LA Tenorio come to an end.
The Hotshots just couldn’t find a way to beat the Tropang 5G, who also beat them, 94-83 last Dec. 21 in the elims.
Zavier Lucero led Magnolia with 21 points and 13 rebounds, Rome Dela Rosa had a solid offensive night of 18 markers on 4-of-6 shooting from three-point range.
Jerom Lastimosa returned from a two-game absence and chipped in 18, while veteran Mark Barroca added 14 and 13 assists.
Ian Sangalang and rookie Yukien Andrada scored 13 apiece.
Tenorio played for the second straight time, and finished with three points, a rebound and three assists.
Source: TNT books semis seat with dominant win over Magnolia
