MANILA, Philippines – Despite facing Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals, TNT Tropang Giga showed resilience, poise, and firepower to escape with a 113-105 overtime win. Now up 2-0 in the best-of-seven series, TNT is just two games away from clinching a berth in the All-Filipino Finals thanks to this victory.

At the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, the contest was an emotional roller coaster for both teams. TNT seemed like they were going to cruise to victory in the first half, taking an early lead thanks to some excellent ball movement and some heavy defensive pressure that eventually exploded to 18 points. The tide turned, though, as Rain or Shine rallied strongly in the second half to take the lead into the final lap of regulation.

Calvin Oftana’s incredible performance, which included a career-high 39 points and nine rebounds, was crucial to TNT’s victory. After Roger Pogoy left the game early with a hamstring injury, his all-around performance was much-needed and just in time. With 4.2 seconds remaining in regulation, the score was 99–all, and Oftana had already kept TNT afloat throughout Rain or Shine’s run. He then delivered under pressure by making three crucial free throws.

With an 8-0 surge in the extra period—started by veteran Kelly Williams and finished with a cold-blooded three-pointer from Oftana—TNT swiftly took control. Even though Rain or Shine had a late surge, they were unable to recover and ultimately lost during that stretch.

All of the Tropang Giga members contributed significantly, but Oftana really shone. Jordan Heading was a rock-solid playmaker and orchestrator, contributing 13 points and 11 assists. In the absence of TNT’s full rotation, the frontcourt duo of Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Kelly Williams contributed 17 points apiece and 22 boards, allowing them to create second-chance opportunities and play solid defense inside.

Rain or Shine deserves a lot of praise for the remarkable character they showed during the comeback. In the fourth quarter, Adrian Nocum and Caelan Tiongson spearheaded an offensive surge that transformed an uneven contest into an exciting showdown. With just a minute remaining, the Painters went ahead 99–96 after putting TNT through a series of hurried possessions caused by their full-court press. Unfortunately, their comeback was not successful in overtime due to a recurrence of defensive mistakes and an inability to match TNT’s precise timing.

Rain or Shine is in a dangerous position after suffering their second consecutive loss. Moving on to the Smart Araneta Coliseum, they will be up against an uphill battle as they attempt to turn the series around, behind 0-2 in the series. If the Elasto Painters want to regain their playoff position, they need to play better offensive all four quarters, defend the boards better, and execute their strategies better in the last seconds.

The ability to adjust was on full display in TNT’s tactical victory in Game 2. Despite missing a crucial player, the Tropang Giga maintained their composure and played with purpose. The team’s reliance on bench players and veterans like Williams showed in their performance in the final minutes.

With Game 3 just around the corner, TNT should be feeling confident. Oftana, Heading, and the bench will have even more pressure to repeat their performance from Game 2 if Pogoy stays out. Since Game 2’s near-collapse could have turned out differently under different circumstances, Coach Chot Reyes and his staff will likely concentrate on improving their late-game decision-making.

But Rain or Shine needs to get a move on for Game 3 immediately. They have what it takes to compete, as shown by their tenacity in Game 2, but they need to step up their game on offense and defense. They can’t afford for their offense to get stuck or for their defense to play catch-up for the entire game. In order to compete with TNT’s physicality and accuracy, players like as Nocum, Tiongson, and Gabe Norwood will have to step up their game.

In terms of prediction, TNT holds the edge moving forward not only because of their 2–0 lead but also due to their ability to close out games under pressure. Rain or Shine still has a chance to change the story if they can fix their mistakes and avoid early deficits. Either TNT pulls away for a sweep in Game 3, or Rain or Shine finds their footing in Game 3.

The stakes are clearly higher as both teams get ready for their next match. There is less room for mistake, more pressure, and more weight on each possession. The continuing struggle for a spot in the finals promises to be another intense showdown for the fans.