At 42 years old, Kelly Williams continues to prove that age is just a number, stepping up when TNT needed him most. In a nerve-wracking do-or-die game, Williams hit two clutch free throws in the final 2.7 seconds, lifting Tropang 5G to an 80-79 victory over Magnolia and securing their spot in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.

This win came just days after a similar heroic effort from Williams, who helped TNT escape with an 89-88 win in Game 1 of the quarterfinals. The veteran forward’s ice-cold performance at the free-throw line proved pivotal once again, making sure TNT held on to a one-point edge in the dying seconds.

“We’re lucky Kelly made those two free throws. If it went into overtime I don’t know if we could have lasted an extra five minutes,” said TNT head coach Chot Reyes, whose backcourt was again short-handed. Brian Heruela was sidelined with a sprained ankle, while Jordan Heading played through a sore back.

With the win, TNT advances to the semifinals, where they will face the winner of the other quarterfinal matchup between NLEX and Rain or Shine. If they continue their strong play, the dream of a Grand Slam season could still be in reach.

Magnolia’s Grit and a Near-Miss

Despite TNT’s victory, Magnolia showed tremendous resilience throughout the game. The Hotshots battled back from a 39-45 deficit in the third quarter and briefly took the lead, 79-78, thanks to a short stab from Ian Sangalang with just 5.8 seconds remaining. However, the lead was short-lived as Williams grabbed Heading’s missed four-pointer, was fouled by Rafi Reavis, and calmly sank the two decisive free throws.

“Magnolia showed a lot of grit in this game,” said coach Reyes. “That prepared us even more for the battles ahead. We were really tested tonight.”

Key Contributions from the Tropang 5G

While Williams contributed 10 points and 10 rebounds in his clutch performance, he wasn’t alone. Roger Pogoy and Calvin Oftana each tallied 18 points, while Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser chipped in with 12 points and five rebounds, continuing to make his presence felt inside.

On the other side, Magnolia’s efforts were led by Zavier Lucero, who posted a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Sangalang added 14 points and seven rebounds. Jerom Lastimosa contributed 13 points, and Aris Dionisio added 12 points.

Looking Ahead to the Semifinals

With TNT now in the semifinals, they’ll be looking to build on their momentum and tackle the challenges ahead. The fight for the Grand Slam is still alive, and the next opponent will only make that pursuit more thrilling.