MANILA, Philippines –  The TNT Tropang 5G defeated the Magnolia Hotshots 80-79 in a thrilling game at Ninoy Aquino Stadium to secure their spot in the 2025 PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals. It was 42-year-old Kelly Williams’ experience and poise that finally made the difference in a contest that came down to the last seconds.

Williams walked up to the free-throw line with just 2.7 seconds remaining, his team trailing by a point, and calmly converted both tries to put TNT ahead. A tipped inbound pass interrupted Magnolia’s final chance to take the victory. The Hotshots were eliminated from the tournament as TNT hung on until the final second after Glenn Khobuntin caught the loose ball.

In the quarterfinal series, TNT faced several obstacles, but they remained calm and performed well during the most important parts of the game. The depth of the Tropang Giga rotation was put to the test when Jordan Heading’s injury limited his availability and guard Brian Heruela was sidelined. Given the physical toll and their reduced lineup, head coach Chot Reyes admitted that his squad might not have had the stamina to compete if the game had gone into overtime. In the last minutes of the game, the team was clearly worn out from playing under a lot of minutes from its core rotation.

Although everyone worked together to win, a few standout performances were made by specific players. With 18 points apiece, Roger Pogoy and Calvin Oftana lead TNT in scoring. In the closing seconds, Oftana also made a crucial defensive play by tipping the inbound pass, which kept Magnolia from scoring a game-winning goal. With 12 points and five rebounds, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser showed strength in the paint, and Kelly Williams had a vital double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Glenn Khobuntin played crucial minutes on both ends of the court and contributed six points.

Magnolia put up a fierce fight, taking a commanding 45–33 lead at the half and reclaiming it in the latter part of the fourth quarter. Ian Sangalang scored 14 points and pulled down seven rebounds, while Zavier Lucero earned a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Aris Dionisio and Jerom Lastimosa each scored 12 and 13 points in a losing effort that saw the Hotshots come very close to winning. After a strong offensive play with 5.8 seconds left, Sangalang gave Magnolia a brief lead of 79–78, but their dreams were dashed when they failed to collect the final defensive rebound.

In the last play for TNT, Williams grabbed the offensive rebound and drew a foul call from Rafi Reavis after Heading missed a shot. TNT was able to regain the lead for good because of the experienced center’s composed performance from the line. When Oftana blocked the incoming pass and Khobuntin gained possession to end the game, Magnolia’s last play fell apart.

Although pleased with the result, TNT’s coaching staff immediately focused on the following semifinal matchup. The team is now concentrating on getting ready for a new and dangerous opponent because they have little time to heal. After winning the Commissioner’s and Governors’ Cups earlier in the season, the Tropang Giga are looking for an uncommon Grand Slam. They still have a chance to win the season sweep, as they will now face the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, who advanced by getting rid of NLEX.

With two consecutive semifinal appearances under their belt, Rain or Shine is on a roll of their own. They provide a serious threat to TNT, which is primarily made up of elderly veterans who are bolstered by up-and-coming talent like Oftana and Ganuelas-Rosser. With the team’s backcourt currently battling ailments, the forthcoming series is anticipated to be a test of TNT’s endurance, self-control, and adaptability.

Scores at the end of the match

TNT 80

Individual scores: Oftana 18, Pogoy 18, Ganuelas-Rosser 12, Williams 10, Enciso 7, Erram 4, Khobuntin 4, Heading 3, Nieto 2, Aurin 0, Vosotros 0.

MAGNOLIA 79

Individual scores: Lucero 15, Sangalang 14, Lastimosa 13, Dionsio 12, Dela Rosa 9, Barroca 8, Lee 4, Navarro 4, Reavis 0, Alfaro 0, Laput 0.

Scores per quarter

18-15, 41-33, 63-56, 80-79