Tropang 5G Shake Off Dyip Challenge, Pull Away for 101-89 Victory

TNT bounced back to the win column in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup with a 101-89 victory over Terrafirma on Saturday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

After a narrow loss to Meralco, the Tropang 5G came out strong early and displayed composure down the stretch, opening with a solid lead and fending off a late Terrafirma rally to secure their third win in five games.

TNT dominated from the outset, establishing a 33-22 lead after the first quarter and pushing their advantage to as much as 22 points in the third period. Despite a spirited effort from Terrafirma, which trimmed the deficit and briefly threatened to shift momentum in the final quarter, the defending champions held firm and closed out the game.

“There's still a lot of strong teams out there, and the way we’re playing... we have so much more to improve on,” said TNT head coach Chot Reyes after the win. “We’re far from where we need to be. I hope we can step it up because the competition in this conference is really tough.”

TNT’s big win was driven by their reinforcements and core veterans. Bol Bol once again starred with 35 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocks, earning Player of the Game honors for his dominant all-around performance. Calvin Oftana also played a pivotal role, finishing with a double-double of 20 points and 12 rebounds. The pair was crucial in the closing moments, with Bol setting up Oftana for a key corner three-pointer that pushed TNT’s lead to 97-88, effectively sealing the victory with just over two minutes remaining.

Veteran Kelly Williams helped maintain the lead with a crucial free throw, stretching the gap to double digits, and Oftana iced the game with three of four free throws in the final 40 seconds.

With the win, TNT improved to a 3-2 record, joining Phoenix and Ginebra in a tightly packed group for third place.

Terrafirma, on the other hand, dropped its third straight game after starting the conference with three consecutive wins.

Mubashar Ali led the Dyip with 24 points and 17 rebounds, while Jerrick Ahanmisi contributed 19 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Brent Paraiso chipped in 13 points. However, Terrafirma struggled in the absence of Maverick Ahanmisi and Paolo Hernandez, both sidelined due to injuries.

Terrafirma will aim to snap its losing streak when it faces unbeaten Rain or Shine on April 15 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. TNT will look to build on its momentum with upcoming games against Blackwater, Titan Ultra, and Converge.