TNT Tropang 5G Stuns Magnolia to Force Do-or-Die Quarterfinal in PBA Philippine Cup

The TNT Tropang 5G refused to let their Grand Slam dreams fade, escaping with a thrilling 89-88 victory over the twice-to-beat Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Quarterfinals on Wednesday at the PhilSports Arena.

Veteran big man Kelly Williams delivered the go-ahead free throw with just 6.8 seconds left, giving TNT a razor-thin lead that they fiercely defended in the closing moments. With Magnolia down by a point and 2.9 seconds to find a game-winner, TNT locked in defensively, preventing Zavier Lucero from getting a clean look at the basket to secure the win.

The victory breathes new life into TNT’s Grand Slam bid, forcing a sudden-death Game 2 against Magnolia on Saturday, June 20, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, with a coveted semifinals spot on the line.

It was a remarkable comeback for TNT, who trailed by as many as 13 points before catching fire behind the stellar play of RR Pogoy. The veteran guard exploded for 30 points, igniting the rally and sealing the game on defense with a crucial steal against Lucero in the dying seconds—his heroics on both ends of the court proved to be the difference.

Calvin Oftana added a huge double-double effort of 21 points and 16 rebounds, while Jordan Heading contributed 10 markers. Kelly Williams and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser also stepped up, sinking back-to-back triples late in the fourth quarter that gave TNT a brief 88-81 advantage.

But Magnolia refused to fold. A clutch three-pointer from Rome Dela Rosa and a long-range bomb by Paul Lee tied the game at 88-all with 37.4 seconds remaining, setting up a dramatic finish.

With time winding down, a scramble under the basket led to Williams being fouled, sending him to the line where he hit the decisive free throw. In the final defensive sequence, TNT’s defense, anchored by Pogoy, smothered Lucero’s post-up attempt to seal the nail-biting win.

WATCH: Magnolia vs. TNT (Game 1 – June 18, 2025) Game Highlights

For Magnolia, Paul Lee led the way with 15 points, while Zavier Lucero and William Navarro added 14 points apiece. Despite the tough loss, the Hotshots will have one more shot at eliminating TNT in the decisive Game 2.

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