TNT wiped away the sting of its Game 3 collapse by delivering a ruthless response, dismantling San Miguel Beer 110-87 on Wednesday night, January 28,  to force a 2-2 stalemate in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals at the MOA Arena.

Calvin Oftana authored the statement performance of the night, pouring in a conference-high 29 points highlighted by five three-pointers as the Tropang 5G dominated from start to finish and spoiled the Beermen’s celebration of June Mar Fajardo’s 13th Best Player of the Conference award.

After letting a late lead slip away in their previous outing, TNT showed no interest in reliving that disappointment. The Tropang 5G stormed out of the gates with urgency, dictating tempo early and building a commanding cushion that San Miguel never seriously threatened.

TNT overwhelms early and never looks back

TNT seized control immediately, opening the game with aggressive defense and crisp ball movement that translated into high-percentage looks. The Tropang 5G ballooned the lead to as much as 28 points in the second quarter, turning the contest into a one-sided affair long before halftime.

By the break, TNT had already established a 65-40 advantage, with Oftana, Jordan Heading and Rey Nambatac all reaching double figures. The trio’s early scoring burst set the tone for a balanced offensive effort that left San Miguel scrambling for answers.

Even the injury setback to RR Pogoy midway through the game failed to slow TNT’s momentum. Pogoy exited after just 7:37 minutes of action, but the Tropang 5G leaned on their depth and defensive discipline to keep the Beermen at bay.

Oftana leads a complete team effort

Oftana complemented his scoring with six rebounds, four steals and a block while committing just two turnovers in over 35 minutes of action, underscoring his all-around impact on both ends of the floor.

Heading added 17 points, while Nambatac chipped in 13 as TNT shot an efficient 50 percent from the field. The Tropang 5G also held San Miguel to just 41.9 percent shooting, their lowest output of the series, after the Beermen had averaged 92.3 points over the first three games.

TNT coach Chot Reyes pointed to the team’s mindset shift following the heartbreaking Game 3 loss, emphasizing perspective and resilience as the keys to their emphatic bounce-back.

“We took a bigger perspective after that Game 3 loss,” Reyes said. “We lost in the last minute, but I told the players we got to the finals the same way. That’s basketball. We put it behind us.”

With the series now reset into a best-of-three showdown, TNT and San Miguel return to the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo on Friday for Game 5, with both teams eyeing a crucial edge in the race to the championship.