TNT downs Magnolia, punches ticket to PBA Philippine Cup finals

The TNT Tropang Giga booked a ticket to the All-Filipino finals after taking down the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, 87-74, in Game 6 of the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

It was nearly a wire-to-wire win for TNT, but the Hotshots gave them a stiff challenge in the fourth period as Magnolia cut their deficit to just three points, 73-70, with 5:49 left.

Magnolia, though, had to play sans Calvin Abueva after he was ejected just seconds after. TNT, meanwhile, also played without Poy Erram after a disqualifying foul early in the period.

TNT regained control late in the match and held it until the final buzzer to clinch their return to the finals.

TNT's ever-reliable veteran guard Jayson Castro tallied a game-high 26 points, while Mikey Williams had 15 points, six rebounds, and five assists. RR Pogoy and Glenn Khobuntin added 14 points each, while Kelly Williams and Erram dominated the boards with 13 and 10 rebounds, respectively.

Ian Sangalang had 16 points and 12 boards for Magnolia, while Abueva had 16 points and six rebounds before fouling out. Jio Jalalon had 11 points, while Paul Lee and Mark Barroca were limited to just 10 and three points each.

This is TNT's third straight Philippine Cup finals appearance, the first two being played in the league's bubble tournaments in Pampanga.

TNT will now wait for the winner of the series between the Meralco Bolts and the San Miguel Beermen with Game 7 of the series to be played on Wednesday.

—JMB, GMA News