THE TNT Tropang 5G had a tough time taking on the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
But the Tropang 5G’s experience still prevailed on Sunday night, allowing them to reach the 49th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup championships, when action ended at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Rain or Shine is a tough team. In this series, they got two wins. This team is going to continue developing. Fortunately, our experience held up today,” said Reyes after the TNT turned back Rain or Shine, 97-89, in Game 6 of their semifinals series.
The Tropang 5G banked on Jordan Heading and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser during a decisive 14-2 run, which broke the game’s last deadlock at 80-all with 5:44 to go as TNT went on to clinch the first finals’ slot after topping their the best-of-seven duel, 4-2.
The Tropang 5G now wait for the outcome of the Barangay Ginebra-San Miguel Beer Game 7 on Wednesday at the Big Dome, to learn of their opponent in the championship round.
“We came together. That’s what happened. Everyone chipped in, stepped up. Unfortunately, we got all those injuries, but it is what it is. But as you saw today these guys, they don’t know the meaning of quit,” said Reyes.
The TNT mentor added that injuries to key players almost hindered them in the quarterfinals and the quarterfinals.
Heading scored 29 points for TNT while Ganuelas-Rosser had 17 for Tropang 5G.
