TNT’s Chot Reyes in Game 1 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals. Photo from PBA Images.MANILA — The TNT Tropang 5G managed to avert a total collapse in Game 1 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals.
Despite seeing their 24-point lead disappear, with the San Miguel Beermen charging on a massive 19-to-nothing run in the fourth canto, the Grand Slam-seeking squad of Chot Reyes escaped with a 99-96 victory.
However, their victory came with the loud noise of controversy, as the PBA Technical Committee, prior to the dying seconds of the contest, deducted a crucial deuce converted by Mo Tautuaa due to what was deemed as a basket interference.
READ: Hot-shooting TNT survives San Miguel’s 4th quarter surge to draw first blood
“Just when it happened, we were already saying that it looked like offensive interference,” said Reyes of the play which occurred with only 56 seconds left. “Good thing, there was a break on that jumpball, ‘cause if not, it could have been a very different story.”
This benefited the Tropang 5G in two ways, as not only did they regain the lead back, 97-96, but it also left San Miguel with just 13 seconds to try to steal the victory.
A jump ball between Chris Ross and Jordan Heading happened at the 13-second mark, and Calvin Oftana went on to drain a pair of foul shots with only four seconds left in the game to push their lead to three.
While there was enough time for the Beermen to tie the game or even win the game with a four-pointer, CJ Perez missed his shot at the buzzer, and Reyes gladly welcomed this for TNT.
“That’s part of the game,” he said. “I’ve been on the opposite end of those breaks in the past, so it’s just something that we’re very fortunate on.”
The Tropang 5G will now look to bank on this victory come Game 2 when they try to build a 2-0 lead on Wednesday, July 16, 7:30 p.m., at the Araneta Coliseum.
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