Pogoy’s late triple sends TNT past Meralco, gives Tropang 5G 2-1 semis lead

Roger Pogoy delivered in the clutch, drilling a game-winning three-pointer in the final seconds as TNT escaped Meralco, 77-75, on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City to move closer to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

With just 7.4 seconds left, Pogoy rose for the decisive triple after Chris Newsome briefly swung momentum back to Meralco with a go-ahead three that put the Bolts up 75-74. The veteran guard’s shot sealed the tight finish and gave the Tropang 5G a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven semifinal series.

The victory capped TNT’s resilient comeback after trailing 66-72, as they responded with an 8-0 run sparked by Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Kelly Williams to take a 74-72 lead before a tense final minute swung back and forth.

Meralco had chances to extend the game, but missed close-range opportunities from CJ Cansino and Jason Brickman allowed the defending champions to narrowly escape despite playing without their import.

TNT head coach Chot Reyes praised his team’s grit in overcoming adversity, emphasizing mindset and effort in their all-Filipino lineup.

“More than talent and depth, it’s really our heart. Before any game plan, we talked about getting our mindset right that we still have a chance,” Reyes said.

“Yesterday we emphasized that without Bol, we can’t match Meralco’s energy and effort directly—we had to find a way to exceed it. That’s how the game unfolded,” he added.

Rey Nambatac led TNT with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Calvin Oftana added 15 points and seven boards. Jordan Heading chipped in 12 points, with nine players scoring at least two points in a balanced offensive effort.

For Meralco, Marvin Jones paced the team with 22 points and 15 rebounds, while Chris Newsome added 10 points, six rebounds, and four assists. However, the Bolts struggled to get consistent production from the rest of the roster.

Game 4 is scheduled for Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, where TNT is also expected to decide on a new import option between Malick Diouf and Chris McCullough as it aims to move one win away from the Finals.