TNT's Chot Reyes on offensive interference call: 'We're very fortunate that that was reversed'

Even before an official review was made on a one-handed slam by Mo Tautuaa late in Game 1 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup finals between TNT and San Miguel, Tropang 5G head coach Chot Reyes already felt like it might have been offensive interference.

Reyes turned out to be right as the shot was ruled by officials as a violation, which reversed the two points that gave the Beermen a slim 98-97 lead in the final 56 seconds of the game. 

TNT eventually took the win as the Tropang 5G inched closer to a historic Grand Slam. 

"Just when it happened, we were already saying that it looked like an offensive interference," Reyes said after their 99-96 win at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

"Good thing that there was a break on that jump ball that they were able to review it and we’re very fortunate that that was reversed."

TNT was on the verge of losing a game that once seemed firmly in their grasp. 

The Tropang 5G torched San Miguel from downtown in the first half, burying nine triples and three four-point shots to mount a huge 61-41 lead thanks to the backcourt tandem of Jordan Heading and the returning RR Pogoy.  Back-to-back three-pointers from Kelly Williams and Calvin Oftana even gave TNT a comfortable 67-43 cushion early in the third.

But a momentum shift saw Beermen unleashing a wild 19-0 blast in the fourth, which allowed San Miguel to take the lead at 93-92. 

The two teams traded baskets in the succeeding plays before Tautuaa received a dish from CJ Perez then drew the defense of Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and soared for a one-handed dunk attempt over Kelly Williams. 

The seasoned big man, though, failed to complete the jam but would get a lucky bounce that sent the ball through the net, giving the Beermen a one-point advantage. 

On the next dead ball, officials made a review and deemed the shot illegal due to offensive goaltending.

Reyes welcomed their lucky break as TNT was still able to draw first blood despite losing steam in the second half. 

"It could have been a different story if not so that’s part of the game, I know the opposite sides of those breaks in the past. It’s just that we’re very fortunate," he said. 

—JMB, GMA Integrated News