Roger Pogoy overcame a difficult shooting night by draining the game-winning triple as TNT escaped Meralco, 77-75, on Sunday, May 24, to reclaim the lead in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals series at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The veteran guard struggled for most of the contest and missed 10 of his first 12 attempts before delivering the biggest shot of the night. Defended by the taller Cliff Hodge, Pogoy calmly knocked down the decisive three-pointer that ultimately pushed the Tropang 5G ahead for good late in the fourth quarter.

Meralco still had one final chance to steal the victory after Pogoy’s clutch basket, but CJ Cansino failed to convert on a drive to the basket. Bong Quinto also missed on a last-second putback attempt as time expired, allowing TNT to secure the narrow win and grab a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series.

The victory allowed TNT to quickly recover from its 87-76 defeat in Game 2 while continuing to fight through the absence of injured import Bol Bol. The Tropang 5G played without an import once again after Bol Bol suffered a conference-ending torn left Achilles tendon earlier in the series.

Pogoy delivers late heroics

Despite his shooting struggles, Pogoy remained aggressive and eventually delivered in the game’s biggest moment. His clutch triple capped TNT’s late rally after the team erased a 10-point deficit in the second half.

Rey Nambatac also stepped up for TNT with one of his best performances of the series. After averaging only 3.5 points in the first two games, Nambatac responded with a team-high 18 points along with eight rebounds to help stabilize the Tropang 5G offense.

Calvin Oftana added 15 points, while Jordan Heading chipped in 12 markers in another balanced effort from TNT. Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser also made key contributions despite battling foul trouble while defending Meralco import Marvin Jones throughout the contest.

Ganuelas-Rosser scored seven of his eight points in the final quarter and helped TNT turn a 67-57 deficit into a 74-72 advantage. His timely baskets gave the Tropang 5G momentum before Pogoy eventually delivered the game-winning shot.

Meralco briefly regained the lead after Chris Newsome buried a triple that put the Bolts ahead, 75-74. However, Pogoy immediately answered with the clutch basket that silenced Meralco’s comeback bid and restored TNT’s control of the series.

McCullough arrives for TNT

TNT also received a major boost off the court after former PBA import champion Chris McCullough officially arrived on Sunday. McCullough watched Game 3 from the sidelines beside team manager Jojo Lastimosa and is expected to reinforce the Tropang 5G beginning Game 4.

McCullough will replace Bol Bol for the remainder of the conference after Marcus Diouf’s eligibility papers were not processed in time. TNT head coach Chot Reyes expressed confidence that the experienced import could provide leadership and stability moving forward in the series.

“I think the maturity and stability of somebody who has been here already, who has won before,” Reyes said regarding McCullough’s expected impact on the team.

Reyes also praised his players for their resilience and effort despite playing without a reinforcement. He emphasized that TNT focused heavily on mindset and energy heading into the crucial Game 3 matchup against the defending champions.

“All of our discussion yesterday in practice, even before any kind of game planning and tactical discussion was just about setting our minds right, that we have a chance,” Reyes said.

“We knew coming to this series that for us to beat Meralco, even when we had Bol, we said we have to match their energy and their effort. We have to find a way to put in more energy, put in more effort than Meralco and that’s the only way we’ll have a chance,” he added.

With the victory, TNT regained momentum in the semifinals and moved one step closer toward a return to the Commissioner’s Cup Finals. Game 4 is scheduled for Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, where McCullough is expected to officially debut for the Tropang 5G.