PBA: TNT rallies from 20 down to beat Phoenix in crucial win

TNT Tropang Giga’s Roger Pogoy in the PBA Philippine Cup. –PBA IMAGES

TNT stormed back from a 20-point halftime deficit to bring down Phoenix, 108-101, Wednesday for a vital win in the PBA Philippine Cup at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

RR Pogoy, Kelly Williams, Calvin Oftana and Kim Aurin came through with big plays to propel the Tropang Giga past the Fuel Masters and climb up to fifth in the standings at 5-4.

Pogoy scored 23 points with eight rebounds, Oftana had 19 points, nine rebounds and three assists while Williams posted 17 points and 13 rebounds.

READ: PBA: Calvin Oftana still confident with TNT’s playoffs chances

Aurin came off the bench with 12 points while sporting a cornrows hair even as Glenn Khobuntin added 11 for TNT.

Coach Chot Reyes, however, said TNT remains a work in progress after producing another double-digit rally for the third straight time.

WATCH: TNT’s Kelly Williams and coach Chot Reyes after their win over Phoenix. | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/PWlmiucsQa

— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) April 24, 2024

Next up for TNT is Converge on Labor Day at Philsports Arena in Pasig City before taking on Magnolia on May 5 at Ninoy.

READ: PBA: TNT ends slide but Chot Reyes wants to ‘fix ourselves first’

The second-half collapse was a big blow for the Fuel Masters in their chase for a quarterfinals berth.

They dropped to 11th at 3-6 with two games left in the eliminations, failing to sustain a 62-42 halftime lead.

Phoenix takes on Meralco on Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum and Blackwater on May 4 at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Jason Perkins posted 26 points and 10 rebounds, but struggled in the second half against the defense imposed by Williams in the paint.

The scores:

TNT 108—Pogoy 23, Oftana 19, Williams 17, Aurin 12, Khobuntin 11, Castro 7, B.Ganuelas-Rosser 7, Montalbo 4, Heruela 3, Ponferrada 2, Reyes 2, Galinato 0, M.Ganuelas-Rosser 0, Ebona 0.

PHOENIX 101—Perkins 26, Alejandro 16, Tuffin 13, Rivero 11, Salado 10, Jasul 8, Muyang 4, Mocon 4, Garcia 3, Daves 3, Soyud 2, Lalata 1, Verano 0, Camacho 0.

Quarters: 22-29, 42-62, 84-81, 108-101.