Kelly Williams saves day anew as grand slam-seeking TNT ousts Magnolia

TNT keeps its grand slam dream alive by eliminating the last franchise to do it. 

This after the Tropang 5G escaped Magnolia in another one-point game as it eked out a nail-biting 80-79 win in the do-or-die quarterfinals of PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup on Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. 

TNT, which also survived via one-point getaway last game, is now through to the semifinals and will take on either Rain or Shine or NLEX as it guns for a grand slam feat.

Kelly Williams came up big in the dying moments again, sinking a pair of clutch free throws off an ill-advised foul from Rafi Reavis to give TNT an 80-79 cushion with 2.7 seconds left in the game. 

Magnolia called for a timeout to create a potential game-winning play, but Calvin Oftana launched a defensive stop that saw him tapping an inbound pass from Rome Dela Rosa to Ian Sangalang in the paint en route to a TNT victory. 

Williams' crucial charities and Oftana's game-saving defense saved TNT after going scoreless for nearly five minutes in the fourth quarter. 

"Believe it or not, I kind of expected it because we were just running on fumes," TNT head coach Chot Reyes said. 

We have a very short rotation because the guy who played very well the last time, Heruela, was out and Jordan Heading didn't even practice these last two days."

TNT caught fire from downtown early with Oftana and Simon Enciso burying back-to-back triples that allowed TNT to establish a 49-35 lead to open the third. 

But the third-seeded Hotshots clicked from beyond the arc as well with Zavier Lucero and Aris Dionisio hitting three triples in a 21-14 run to end the frame as they still trailed TNT, 56-63. 

Magnolia patiently crawled its way from there, taking advantage of a foul trouble TNT that eventually saw Dela Rosa tying the game at 74-all off a pair of free throws. 

RR Pogoy then came through in the endgame, first sinking a layup off a dish from Jordan Heading before issuing the pass that led to a Poy Erram basket for a 78-77 lead. 

Sangalang would still convert following a set-up from Lastimosa, but the Hotshots' collapse on defense paved the way for Williams' game-winning freebies. 

In the previous game, Williams also won it at the line for TNT after splitting his free throws en route to an 89-88 escape act. 

"Para sa akin, tumatak lang talaga 'yung palaging sinasabi ni coach na ang parang unfair palagi ang buhay pero sabi ni coach, ang daming nangyayari sa atin pero laban pa rin tayo," said Pogoy, who starred with 18 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. 

"Bigyan lang natin ng chance 'yung team natin na manalo."

Magnolia, the last franchise to complete a rare grand slam feat in 2014 with the San Mig Coffee Mixers then, was led by Lucero's double-double outing of 15 points and 10 rebounds while Sangalang finished with 14 markers, seven boards, and one dime. 

Scores:

TNT 80 – Oftana 18, Pogoy 18, Ganuelas-Rosser 12, Williams 10, Enciso 7, Erram 4, Khobuntin 4, Heading 3, Nieto 2, Aurin 0, Vosotros 0.

Magnolia 79 – Lucero 15, Sangalang 14, Lastimosa 13, Dionsio 12, Dela Rosa 9, Barroca 8, Lee 4, Navarro 4, Reavis 0, Alfaro 0, Laput 0.

Quarters: 18-15, 41-33, 63-56, 80-79.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News