TNT Tropang Giga has closed out the best of seven series with Magnolia Hotshots in just five games 4-1 with a win Friday night enroute to winning the Philippine Cup title.
TNT Tropang Giga ended their 6-year title drought after successfully bagging the PBA Philippine Cup title at the Don Honorio Ventura State University in Bacolor, Pampanga.
The Tropang Giga made sure that there would no Game 6 anymore on Sunday as they crushed Magnolia Hotshots’ aspiration for the title.
Dominating the game all throughout for a 94-79 victory, they were clearly the more determined and hungrier team.
A huge factor for TNT’s journey back to the top is their super rookie Mikey Williams.
The 30-year old did not only help his team win a title but he also claimed the honor of Finals MVP, after losing the Best Player of the Conference to Magnolia’s Calvin Abueva.
Williams finished with a game-high 24 points with four rebounds, four assists, and two steals to lead TNT, while Roger Pogoy had 19 points and three steals.
Jayson Castro added 10 points, two steals, and a block.
TNT was simply dominant from the start after establishing a 23-point lead in the second quarter for a 47-33 halftime advantage.
It was the hot shooting of TNT that made Magnolia’s nightmare game as they shot 44% from the field in Game 5.
The Hotshots have now lost three of their last four PBA Philippine Cup finals, after losing to their sister team San Miguel Beermen in the 2018 and 2019 editions.
Ian Sangalang led the Hotshots with 18 points while Best Player of the Conference Calvin Abueva added 14 points.
TNT’s head coach Chot Reyes is now a six-time Philippine Cup winner who made his return in the PBA this year after a nine year absence. He dedicated his latest championship to his family, the owner and team management and to the fans, and gave much of the credit to his players.
"I have to give it to these guys behind me. They put in all the effort. They stayed together through adversity. It's been a long journey and I'm proud of these guys," he said.
Tags: #basketball, #PBA, #sports #TNT #MagnoliaHotshots