By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The emerging young star Encho Serrano and the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters aren’t done turning heads and stunned the TNT Tropang Giga, 91-88, to extend their winning streak in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup to five games last October 30, 2022.
Down 77-79 against the star-studded TNT team, Serrano provided the much-needed offensive spark and drained a three-pointer from the right corner to help Phoenix retake the lead, 80-79.
The high-flying guard from De La Salle University (DLSU) then didn’t look back and made the key assists and rebounds in the crucial last five minutes of the game.
With the score deadlocked at 88-all in the last minute of the see-saw affair, Serrano buried a clutch free throw that put Phoenix up by a point, 89-88.
The Tropang Giga failed to buy a basket during their next possessions and was forced to foul Tyler Tio who sank all of his shots from the charity stripe.
With 2.6 seconds remaining in the game, head coach Chot Reyes called for a timeout and designed one last play to force overtime but import Cameron Oliver missed badly as he attempted a long catch-and-shoot trey from the right elbow.
It was all Phoenix in the first half as their blazing offense caught the Tropang Giga off guard led by their signature balanced attack.
The Fuel Masters immediately established a 10-point lead after the end of the first quarter, 17-7, and continued pouring on the attack in the next frame when they ballooned their biggest lead to as much as 17 points.
However, the Tropang Giga caught fire as the second quarter was about to close and trimmed Phoenix’s lead to just nine points, 47-38.
Just when the Fuel Masters thought they already figured out TNT’s offensive executions, coach Reyes and the rest of the Tropang Giga responded with huge adjustments in the second half when they kept on finding Calvin Oftana for the mismatches.
The result turned positive for the Tropang Giga as Oftana went scorching hot in the third quarter and single-handedly helped TNT retake the lead, 57-58, after a trey in the left wing.
Phoenix wasn’t to be denied and answered back with their own offensive barrage led by the acrobatic deuces of Serrano.
The Tropang Giga had their momentum in the fourth quarter but Serrano’s timely baskets sucked the life out of the TNT squad while earning the PBA Player of the Week honors.
Import Kaleb Wesson led all Phoenix scorers with 23 points and 17 rebounds while Serrano contributed 16 big points.
On the other hand, Oftana led all TNT scorers with 27 points backstopped by Oliver who chipped in 20 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists.
