ANTIPOLO City – Rey Nambatac delivered one of the most dramatic performances of the PBA season, burying the game-winning jumper in overtime as the TNT Tropang 5G completed a stunning 23-point comeback to edge the Meralco Bolts, 100-98, in the Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center on Wednesday night.
Down 41-64 early in the third quarter, TNT clawed its way back behind Calvin Oftana’s scoring bursts and Nambatac’s late-game heroics. With the score tied at 98-all, Nambatac sized up his defender and coolly drained a mid-range jumper from just inside the free-throw area with one second remaining to seal the victory.
“It’s a team decision and basketball IQ na din,” said Nambatac, who erupted for 22 points—20 of them in the second half—to earn Player of the Game honors. “Nakikita ko kung papaano sila dumepensa, so ‘yung lapses nila sa depensa, ‘yun ang tinake advantage ko.”
Oftana led TNT with 24 points, while Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Roger Pogoy added 14 apiece. Jiovani Jalalon chipped in 10 as the Tropang 5G improved to a 4-1 record, tying for the top spot in the standings.
Chris Newsome paced the Bolts with 24 points, followed by Cliff Hodge with 22 and Aaron Black with 14, but Meralco failed to protect its huge lead and slipped to 3-4.
Meanwhile, in the earlier game, the NLEX Road Warriors regained composure in the final period to defeat the Blackwater Bossing, 99-88, and join TNT on top.
After seeing their 10-point halftime lead dwindle to three in the third, the Road Warriors reasserted control with key baskets from Robert Bolick Jr., John Bryle Bahio, and Kevin Alas.
Bahio powered NLEX with 23 points, Xyrus Torres added 18, while Bolick finished with 15 points and 12 assists in another all-around effort. Alas contributed 13 markers in the balanced offensive showing./PN
