PBA: Gutsy TNT Scores Comeback Quarterfinal Win Over Magnolia

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The TNT Tropang 5G showed nerves of steel down the stretch to frustrate the Magnolia Hotshots Chicken Timplados, 89-88, in the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals on June 18, 2025, at the Philsports Arena.

After trailing by as much as 13 points, the Tropang 5G mounted a much-needed counterattack in the final frame, sparked by the piping-hot RR Pogoy who drained huge shot after huge shot that steered TNT to within striking distance.

TNT officially snatched their place in the driver’s seat after Pogoy sank a clutch floater for the 78-77 advantage. Minutes after his rampage, the duo of Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Kelly Williams stretched the Tropang 5G’s lead to seven, 88-81, off back-to-back three-pointers with only two minutes remaining in the game.

Paul Lee won’t let Magnolia go down without a fight after sinking a massive four-pointer, but the Chicken Timplados made a costly mistake when they fouled Williams that sent him to the line.

Williams then broke the 88-all deadlock after splitting his shots from the charity stripe with only 6.8 seconds left. Magnolia had the chance to go for the win with a final attempt, but Pogoy made the biggest defensive stop of the ball game after swiping away the leather from Zavier Lucero’s hands.

It was all Magnolia in the first three quarters as the duo of Lee and William Navarro torched the Tropang 5G, backstopped by the athleticism of Lucero who was leaping for multiple offensive rebounds that rewarded his squad with several second-chance points.

Jerom Lastimosa took over for Magnolia in the third, slicing and dicing his way in the shaded lane to help maintain their cushion to double digits.

However, after Pogoy caught fire with a barrage of three-pointers, TNT suddenly chipped their deficit away, fueled by Calvin Oftana’s on-point scoring at the start of the fourth.

Unfortunately for Magnolia, they failed to find the same intensity that they displayed in the first three frames, en route to a massive fourth-quarter turnaround by the Tropang 5G.

Pogoy was a one-man wrecking machine for TNT as the veteran shooting guard unleashed 30 big points built from an efficient 13/23 shooting from the field.

Oftana, who picked up his rhythm in the fourth, added an all-around showing of 21 markers, 16 rebounds, five assists, and three steals.

On the other hand, the Chicken Timplados received a 15-point effort from Lee, but needed more personnel to step up as Mark Barocca, his co-star in the backcourt, had a dismal six-point outing in a playoff setting.

In the other quarterfinal matchup, the Rain or Shine Elastopainters got the better of the NLEX Road Warriors in a nip-and-tuck affair, 92-89.