The TNT Tropang Giga advanced to the finals of the PBA Philippine Cup after outlasting the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, 91-81, in the deciding Game Five of their semifinal series on Friday at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Arena in Pampanga.
The win completed TNT’s fightback from a 1-2 series deficit to earn their first Philippine Cup finals berth since 2013. They now await the winner of the Meralco-Ginebra series.
Five different players scored in double-figures for the Tropang Giga led by the near triple-double performance of lefty wingman, Bobby Ray Parks. The versatile guard had 26 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
Simon Enciso scored 12 markers while Jayson Castro, Roger Pogoy and Jay Washington each had 11 points.
The loss was a bitter one for the Fuel Masters as they just could not find their touch from beyond the arc. Phoenix made just eight of their 41 three-point attempts.
Top sniper Matthew Wright typified the team’s struggles as he missed 10 of his 13 attempts from rainbow country and finished with just 13 points.
Calvin Abueva led Phoenix with 23 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. (JNP)