Sports
TNT nears Finals return with Game 5 win over Meralco
TNT Tropang 5G’s Chris McCullough during a game vs Meralco Bolts in the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—TNT inched closer to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals after beating Meralco, 103-95, in Game 5 of their semifinal series on Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Tropang 5G seized a pivotal 3-2 series lead after keeping the Bolts at bay with a strong finishing kick in the fourth quarter.
READ: PBA: Chris McCullough still rusty, but confident of bounceback
“Our key coming into this game was our defensive game plan and getting good shots,” coach Chot Reyes said.
“For us, to help our defense, we had to take good shots. I think that’s what happened in the fourth quarter.”
TNT Tropang 5G’s Jordan Heading and Roger Pogoy during a game vs Meralco Bolts in the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
TNT was clinging to an 86-83 lead midway through the final period when import Chris McCullough sparked a personal 12-7 run, capped by a jumper at the 3:08 mark, to stretch the advantage to 98-91.
Cliff Hodge stopped the bleeding with two free throws, but Jordan Heading answered with a 5-0 burst of his own to help TNT pull away, 103-93, with under than two minutes left.
McCullough turned in a monster double-double of 42 points and 11 rebounds, while Heading had 22 in the TNT win. Roger Pogoy and Calvin Oftana also chipped in 16 and 12 points, respectively.
Meralco import Patrick Gardner finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds for Meralco, which will look to force a decider. Hodge also had a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Game 6 is on Sunday at Ynares Center in Antipolo.
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