Simon Enciso led a relentless outside assault as TNT Tropang Giga powered to their sixth straight win in the PBA Philippine Cup, routing Blackwater, 108-82, on Friday, June 6, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

After starting the tournament with three straight losses, TNT has now surged to 6-3, tying Barangay Ginebra and Rain or Shine for fourth place and staying in the hunt for a vital Top 4 seeding in the quarterfinals.

Enciso catches fire as TNT builds separation

Enciso, filling in for injured stars Jayson Castro and Rey Nambatac, delivered a stellar 19-point performance, including multiple three-pointers that ignited TNT’s second-quarter breakaway. A tight 36-34 game quickly swung in the Tropang Giga’s favor as Enciso sparked an 18-6 run with back-to-back triples.

TNT dropped a total of 16 three-pointers in the game, with six players connecting from beyond the arc. Kelly Williams and Calvin Oftana contributed three each, scoring 15 and 14 points, respectively.

Top 4 chase alive despite injury woes

Despite being without newly acquired sharpshooter Jordan Heading, who is still recovering from a back injury, TNT continued its perimeter dominance. Mike Nieto, another recent addition, saw his debut and logged 12 minutes with two points and two rebounds.

Head coach Chot Reyes was pleased with the team’s effort and the implications of the victory. “We talked about how winning this ball game will give us a chance. Now we have a chance,” he said. “But we all know how difficult that road is going to be.”

TNT next faces crucial matchups against Ginebra on Sunday and Magnolia on Friday in a bid to secure a Top 4 berth. Meanwhile, Blackwater dropped its sixth straight game to fall to 1-8.