PBA: Pogoy drills game-winning triple as TNT escapes Meralco to take 2-1 lead in semis

RR Pogoy drilled the game-winning triple as the all-Filipino TNT Tropang 5G escaped Meralco Bolts, 77-75, to take Game 3 and a 2-1 series lead in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Tropang 5G was trailing, 67-57, with 7:09 left before they made a 7-0 run to trim the deficit. Chris Newsome then drilled a triple to give the Bolts enough breathing room, but TNT made another 10-2 run to take the lead with 1:37 left.

With seven seconds left after Newsome gave the Bolts a 75-74 lead, Pogoy knocked down only his second field goal of the night to lift TNT to victory, as CJ Cansino and Bong Quinto missed their late attempts.

"More than the caliber and depth of our team, I think it's our heart really," TNT head coach Chot Reyes said about their fight.

"All of our discussion yesterday in practice was just about setting our minds right that we have a chance. We knew coming into this series that for us to beat Meralco, even with Bol, we had to match their energy and effort. Yesterday, our discussion was because we are all Filipino, we cannot match Meralco's energy and effort. We have to overcome it."

Rey Nambatac finished with 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals, while Calvin Oftana and Jordan Heading added 15 and 12 points, respectively, as TNT played without an import.

Malick Diouf was supposed to suit up as TNT’s import for the game, but his papers were reportedly not processed in time.

Meanwhile, Marvin Jones posted 22 points and 15 rebounds for Meralco, while Newsome chipped in 10 points.

Scores:

TNT 77 – Nambatac 18, Oftana 15, Heading 12, Pogoy 9, Ganuelas-Rosser 8, Khobuntin 5, Aurin 5, Williams 3, Galinato 2, Ferrer 0, Chua 0, Quitevis 0.

Meralco 75 – Jones 22, Newsome 10, Cansino 8, Mocon 8, Brickman 7, Black 5, Rios 5, Banchero 4, Hodge 4, Quinto 2, Bates 0.

Quarters: 20-16, 43-34, 55-59, 77-75.

—JKC, GMA News