TNT has advanced but not San Miguel Beer.
While the Tropang Giga survived a bruising game to defeat the Magnolia Hotshots in an extremely physical 87-74 win, the Beermen bowed to the Meralco Bolts in a 96-92 squeaker before an unbelieving crowd that again included Sen. Bong Go at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
TNT clinched the Best-of-7 series, 4-2, in the process proceeding to the Finals of the PBA Philippine Cup, arguably the league’s most prized trophy.
But more importantly, the victory gave the Tropang Giga a chance to defend the crown they won last year in the “Bacolor Bubble” in Pampanga.
In advancing, TNT yielded just the third quarter in the Sunday shebang, 21-18, finishing strong as it limited Magnolia to just 19 points in the final quarter while unloading 27 points in the same period.
As a bonus, the Tropang Giga got a big lift, rest-wise, as they will now have the luxury of enjoying an extended vacation before they plunge into another grueling race-to-four affair possibly starting on Friday, Aug. 19.
TNT’s Finals opponent will be the winner of the Game Seven decider between San Miguel Beer and Meralco on Wednesday, Aug. 17.
This materialized after the Beermen blew a 16-point lead, succumbing to the nearly game-long brutal defense of the Bolts that was backed up by the timely sniping of former Rookie of The Year Aaron Black.
From being limited to a mere six points in Game 5 on 2-of-11 clip from the field, Black, the gallant son of long-time Meralco coach Norman Black, fired 17 points on Sunday.
The younger Black put Meralco safely ahead by sinking a free throw, 93-90, with 8.3 seconds left, spearheading a 12-2 run in a blistering Bolt comeback from 10 points down in under two minutes left in the game. Aaron’s last two free throws made it a final 96-92 win for the Bolts.
“I’m happy that he took over the game today,” said the elder Black of his son.
So stupendous was the Bolts’ Black-inspired final push that they held the Beermen scoreless for four minutes in the homestretch, with SMB’s last two harmless points coming from the line through CJ Perez with 6.3 seconds left—and the game gone.
“Our backs were against the wall,” said Aaron. “I’m glad that we came together as a team to live another day.”
It’d be a war on Wednesday at the Cubao Big Dome.