PBA: TNT books PH Cup finals ticket, spoils Cansino’s career game in wild Game 5 escape

Amidst a career game from Meralco’s CJ Cansino, the TNT Tropang 5G staged a wild 99-96 escape of the Bolts in a Game 5 classic in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

In the face of potential defeat with 21 seconds left in the game, Rey Nambatac hit a crucial four-point shot before Jordan Heading swiped the ball from Cansino and converted a layup for a six-point swing that made it a 97-96 lead for TNT.

Nambatac sealed the massive comeback with a pair of free throws off a foul from Bong Quinto as TNT booked its fourth straight finals appearance despite the absence of RR Pogoy.

TNT's three-point triumph over Meralco also spoiled Cansino's career-high 36 points, which the sophomore guard bolstered with five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. 

With Pogoy's absence and an uncharacteristic off night for Calvin Oftana, Heading and Nambatac carried TNT on their backs with the former dropping 31 points, four rebounds, and five assists and the latter churning out 25 markers, four boards, and four dimes. 

Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser provided 12 points and five rebounds while Oftana finished with 10 markers on just 4-of-11 shooting from the field. 

"We had some looks but the key was for him to get it in motion. So the reason. Rey is there because of his ability to make those shots. After that, it was just gritty basketball. Just our player refusing to give up," TNT head coach Chot Reyes said. 

TNT seized control of the game early on with a momentum-builder 19-4 start in the first period. But the Bolts turned to the youthful backcourt tandem of Cansino and Aaron Black in turning things around and taking a slim 50-46 halftime lead. 

Instead of losing steam, Cansino stepped on the gas pedal even more in the second half. 

He buried a four-point shot and completed a three-point play that trimmed the gap to one, 85-86, before unleashing a personal 5-2 run that gave the Bolts a 90-88 lead. 

Cansino would sink a tough jumper over Simon Enciso for a 95-91 lead while Cliff Hodge split his charities to make it a comfortable five-point cushion with 27 seconds left. 

That could have been it for the Bolts, but Nambatac drained a huge four-pointer and Heading quickly converted a layup off a Cansino turnover in a span of six seconds as TNT seized a 96-96 lead en route to the win. 

The scores:
TNT 99 - Heading 31, Nambatac 25, Ganuelas-Rosser 12, Oftana 10, Erram 6, Enciso 5, Galinato 4, Jalalon 4, Williams 2, Ferrer 0, Khobuntin 0, Aurin 0.

Meralco 96 - Cansino 36, Black 17, Rios 9, Banchero 8, Quinto 7, Hodge 6, Jose 6, Bates 4, Comia 3, Almazan 0, Caram 0, Reyson 0.

Quarters: 30-22, 46-50, 75-72, 99-96.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News