PBA: Oftana, Heading on fire as TNT goes 2-0 vs. Meralco

Calvin Oftana and Jordan Heading formed a lethal duo to lift TNT to a decisive 109-92 win against Meralco in Game 2 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

Oftana remained a consistent offensive weapon for the Tropang 5G, pouring 26 points, seven rebounds, and one block to follow up on his 28-point outing in the series opener last Sunday as TNT went 2-0 in the best-of-seven series. 

Oftana got ample help in this game with Heading making up for poor shooting last game to finish with 24 markers, two boards, one assist, and one steal. Kelly Williams and RR Pogoy also chipped in 12 markers each. 

But while they're up two games in the series, TNT isn't thinking beyond what's in front of them.

"Hindi namin iniisip [na 2-0 na kami]. One of my messages to the players in practice after Sunday's game, was keep your vision short, keep our sights on what's in front of us," TNT head coach Chot Reyes said.

(We're not thinking that we're up to 2-0. One of my messages to the players in practice after Sunday's game, was keep your vision short, keep our sights on what's in front of us.)

"Right now, what is in front of us is Game 3. We're not thinking beyond Game 3."

Unlike in Game 1, TNT was in the driver's seat throughout the game this time around. 

The troika of Heading, Williams, and Oftana waxed hot early to help the Tropang 5G secure a 57-46 halftime lead as the Bolts struggled to convert any single triple from their six attempts beyond the arc. 

Meralco continued to struggle from the rainbow country in the second half, taking just eight attempts and knocking down just one. 

It was the exact opposite for TNT, which buried five long bombs in the second half, including back-to-back three-pointers from Oftana early in the fourth that gave his team a 20-point lead, 94-74. 

Meralco, though, tried to mount a comeback before that with Bong Quinto completing a three-point play to cut the deficit to 13 late in the third, 74-61, while a Raymond Almazan dunk trimmed it to 12 at 78-66. 

But the shots just would not fall for the Bolts as TNT completed the wire-to-wire victory that put them two wins away from closing out the series and marching to its fourth straight finals appearance. 

Chris Newsome and Cliff Hodge were among  bright spots for Meralco, posting 18 points each with the latter also grabbing seven rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. 

TNT will now go for a commanding 3-0 lead in Game 3 set on Friday.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News