TNT coach Chot Reyes joked that he couldn’t buy a putt on the golf course Tuesday morning — but by Tuesday night, his depleted Tropang 5G squad was draining shots when it mattered most.

Missing four key players and staring down a 17-point deficit, TNT refused to blink, ripping off a stunning 110-107 comeback win over the Converge FiberXers in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup at Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The victory snapped a two-game slide for TNT, improved the Tropa to 2-2, and handed Converge its second straight defeat, dropping the FiberXers to 3-2.

The night belonged to Rey Nambatac, who exploded for a team-high 30 points, capped by a buzzer-beating dagger triple that sealed the win and spoiled the highly anticipated return of import Jamaal Franklin to the Converge lineup.

TNT’s Depleted Roster Digs Deep for Character Win

TNT entered the contest without Calvin Oftana, Jayson Castro, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, and Kelly Williams — a brutal blow to a roster already searching for consistency. Yet instead of folding, the Tropang 5G leaned on grit and depth to survive a game that tested them at every turn.

Converge came out firing, riding hot shooting from Franklin, Justine Baltazar, and Mikey Williams to seize the first quarter, 33-25. TNT clawed back before halftime, trimming the deficit to 51-54, only to watch the FiberXers reassert a commanding lead in the third quarter.

But TNT’s resolve never cracked. Jordan Heading poured in 20 points and Henry Galinato added 12 in support of Nambatac, while import Darius Days battled through a rough shooting night — finishing just 4-of-19 from the field for 10 points — but made his presence felt with relentless hustle plays down the stretch.

“We could’ve folded when they left us behind off the bat. We could’ve folded when we lost Jordan Heading. We could’ve folded when we lost Galinato,” Reyes said, crediting his shorthanded unit’s refusal to quit.

Franklin’s Return Falls Short as Nambatac Delivers the Dagger

Franklin, stepping in as Converge’s import replacement for Jalen Hudson, made an immediate impact in his PBA debut with the FiberXers, finishing with 30 points, five rebounds, and two assists. However, six costly turnovers proved crucial down the stretch, as TNT capitalized on Converge’s late miscues to complete the improbable comeback.

Baltazar chipped in 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Mikey Williams added 17 points, highlighted by a sizzling 3-of-5 clip from four-point range. Despite the offensive firepower, Converge couldn’t hold off a TNT squad that simply refused to be denied.

With the win, TNT evens its record in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup and sends a clear message: Even without their full arsenal, the Tropang 5G can still find a way to escape with the victory when it counts most.