PBA: Rey Nambatac game-winning triple caps epic TNT comeback vs. Converge

Rey Nambatac buried the game-winning jumper at the buzzer as an undermanned TNT eked out a 110-107 comeback win against Converge in the PBA Season 50 Governors' Cup on Tuesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Tied at 107-all after returning Converge import Jamaal Franklin shot all four free throws off a foul from Sean Quitevis in the final 9.1 seconds of the fourth period, Nambatac challenged the defense of Alec Stockton then drained the tough long jumper to give TNT the three-point lead.

That basket sealed a massive come-from-behind victory for the Tropang 5G, who overcame a 17-point deficit despite being without several key players.

Already missing Calvin Oftana, Jayson Castro, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Poy Erram, and Kelly Williams before tipoff, TNT suffered two more blows in the third quarter when Jordan Heading and RR Pogoy exited the game.

For TNT head coach Chot Reyes, the victory spoke volumes about his team's character.

"You hardly heard me talk about character in post-game interviews because for me, character is what's within and we don't have to talk about it to demonstrate it," Reyes said.

"But I thought tonight is definitely a gutsy character win. We could have folded so many times."

Converge took advantage of a depleted TNT early on with former Tropang 5G Mikey Williams hitting back-to-back four-point shots for a 20-3 start in the first period.

But Heading and the rest of TNT bench did enough to cut the gap to just three at the break, 54-51.

But just as TNT was beginning to build momentum, Heading injured his right arm at the 4:33 mark of the third quarter before Pogoy hurt his right knee with 3:09 remaining in the period.

That didn't take the fight out of the defending champions. After Converge built another 103-98 lead following a four-point play and a four-point basket from Franklin, TNT responded with Quitevis and Henry Galinato giving them a 104-103 lead and Nambatac burying a triple for a 107-103 cushion.

Franklin stayed calm under pressure, knocking down all four free throws to knot the score at 107-all before Nambatac delivered the dagger that lifted TNT to its second win of the conference.

Nambatac finished with 30 points and four assists while Heading finished with 20 markers before he exited the match. TNT also got a huge lift from the bench as Galinato tallied 12 points and 11 rebounds while Jio Jalalon and Kevin Ferrer both chipped in nine markers.

TNT import Darius Days was held to just 10 markers, four boards, and one assist.

—JMB, GMA News