TNT survives NorthPort rally in OT thriller, books twice-to-beat incentive

TNT Tropang Giga squandered a huge lead but managed to keep its poise in the overtime to beat NorthPort Batang Pier, 106-101, and book the last twice-to-beat playoff bonus in the 2021 PBA Governors' Cup on Friday.

TNT import Aaron Fuller split his charities with 47 ticks left to tie the score at 90 apiece.

His fellow import Jamel Artis then had a costly turnover for NorthPort, but a missed three-pointer from Poy Erram gave the Batang Pier the chance to take home the game.

But Malonzo failed to sink a triple as well, sending the game into extra period.

A hot-shooting Mikey Williams drilled two triples to open the extra period to help bring TNT up by 10, 100-90. But Artis led a 9-2 run to bring the Batang Pier within three points.

RR Pogoy and Robert Bolick then traded baskets with 46 seconds left in the match. Artis and Arwind Santos had the chances to even the game but both big men missed their shots from beyond the arc in the dying seconds of the game.

Ryan Reyes then went to the line and iced the victory.

Williams led TNT rally with 28 points, seven assists, four rebounds, and two steals as TNT improved to 7-4 while Fuller had a double-double of 15 markers and 20 boards.

Jayson Castro finished with 15 points and seven rebounds while Pogoy had 11.

TNT led by as much as 18 but the Batang Pier, hungry for a playoff seat, turned things around in the third quarter which they opened with a scorching 11-0 run led by Artis as they trailed by just four, 54-50.

During that huge third quarter rally, NorthPort unleashed 34 points while limiting TNT to just 18.

The win catapulted TNT to the third spot in the team standings with a 7-4 card, just one slot ahead of Meralco which earlier dispatched Phoenix Super LPG. Both the Tropang Giga and the Bolts are now assured of the quarterfinal incentive.

The Batang Pier, meanwhile, still has a chance to catch the playoff bus if it wins against the Fuel Masters in their knockout match for the no. 8 position, where the winner will play league leader Magnolia.

The Scores:

TNT - M. Williams 28, Castro 15, Fuller 15, Pogoy 11, K. Williams 10, Rosario 6, Erram 6, Montalbo 5,  Khobuntin 5, Reyes 5, Heruela 0.

NorthPort - Artis 39, Bolick 22, Santos 16, Malonzo 13, Balanza 6, Taha 3, Ferrer 2, Rike 0.

Quarters: 29-14, 54-39, 72-73, 90-90, 106-101.

—MGP, GMA News