TNT moves one win away from PBA PH Cup title

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The TNT Tropang Giga was all business during Game 4 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals when they dismantled the Magnolia Pambansang Manok, 106-89, and moved one win away from its first league title in six long years.

When it rains, it pours indeed.

Despite a dramatic ending to a physical Game 3 battle, the Tropang Giga came in locked and loaded and torched the Magnolia defense from the get-go.

Mikey Williams continued his phenomenal rookie campaign as he scored 26 points and made it rain from three-point territory with six shots converted.

However, Magnolia also kicked off the game with their defensive tenacity and kept things close until the middle part of the second half when they only trailed by two, 31-29.

Subbed in to restore order inside the playing court, Tropang Giga veteran Ryan Reyes proved to be the difference-maker as he displayed a defensive clinic and swiped the ball away four times in the second quarter alone that ended in a massive 33-15 run in favor of TNT.

The Reyes effect left a sting on the Magnolia offense that just went stagnant the whole second half when Paul Lee and the rest of the team struggled to convert a basket.

It was all TNT in the fourth despite the signature full-court pressure deployed by Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero in hopes of trimming the deficit to single digits.

Reyes was named as the Best Player of the Game with 10 points and four steals, all produced in the first two quarters of the game.

Meanwhile, the banged-up Troy Rosario was a welcome sight when he played in the game and managed to chip in with five points and three rebounds.

Magnolia will have the chance to extend the series to a sixth game as they meet today at 6 PM for the PBA PH Cup Game 5 finals.