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.

Heading led TNT with 31 points while Cansino scored 36 in a losing effort for Meralco.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News