Calvin Oftana and Jordan Heading celebrate as TNT Tropang Giga beats Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Unlike the other side of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals, TNT made sure its series with Rain or Shine wouldn’t head to a deciding Game 7.
The Tropang 5G trounced the Elasto Painters in Game 6, 97-89, to keep their Grand Slam bid alive and return to the PBA Finals for the third straight time.
HIGHLIGHTS: 2025 PBA Philippine Cup Semifinals – Game 6 – July 6
Jordan Heading, one of TNT’s late acquisitions before the playoffs, spearheaded the squad’s victory with 29 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals.
“These guys, they do not know the meaning of quit. They just kept fighting,” lauded coach Chot Reyes. “Fortunately, I think our experience held up today.”
At one point in the fourth quarter, it looked like Game 6 would end in a barn burner with the score tied at 80-all.
READ: PBA: Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser shows ‘tougher’ resolve for TNT
However, that would be the closest the Elasto Painters would get before TNT unloaded an 8-0 run capped off by a Heading triple to put the Tropang Giga up, 88-80, with 2:37 left.
That would be all she wrote as Rain or Shine failed to mount any comeback effort.
The game’s ending, though, was anything but peaceful as fireworks ensued in the final minute.
Players of Rain or Shine and TNT get heated during the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals Game 6. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Technical fouls were handed out like candies on Halloween as Jhonard Clarito, Glenn Khobuntin, Andrei Caracut and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser were all whistled for a verbal altercation.
If you ask Heading, though, it was just a scene of guys wanting to get the better of each other in the heat of battle.
“At the heart of it, we all know these guys are just trying to win a ballgame like we are. Things get chippy ‘cause guys get competitive and that’s just the way it is,” said the former Converge shooter.
“Credit to those guys, they played a great series and it’s just impressive how aggressive and hard they come out each and every night,” he added.
Khobuntin helped TNT’s cause with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds. Ganuelas-Rosser was also instrumental with 17 points.
Caelan Tiongson exploded for 30 points and six rebounds in a losing effort as the Elasto Painters fell to TNT in the semifinals for the third straight time.
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Heading, Reyes and the Tropang Giga will watch Game 7 between Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer intently to see who they’ll face in the all-Filipino Finals.
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