Heading erupts for career night as TNT cruises into PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals

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Jordan Heading delivered a breakout performance Saturday night, December 13, firing a career-high 32 points to lift TNT to a commanding 119-100 victory over NLEX in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. The win officially propelled the Tropang 5G into the quarterfinals while snapping a brief two-game losing streak.

TNT improved to a 6-3 record and joined Rain or Shine, San Miguel, Magnolia, Converge, and NLEX itself in the next round. The Tropang 5G seized control early and never allowed the Road Warriors to threaten as the margin ballooned deep into the second half.

The victory stood out for its consistency, with TNT sustaining pressure after previously squandering strong starts in consecutive losses. This time, the Tropang 5G stayed locked in on both ends from opening tip to final buzzer.

Jordan Heading delivers the best scoring night of his PBA career as TNT rolls into the quarterfinals. [PBA Images]

Complete-game response from TNT

Head coach Chot Reyes emphasized the importance of maintaining focus for all 48 minutes, a theme TNT repeatedly drilled in practice during the week. That approach translated into disciplined execution and steady scoring across all four quarters.

TNT’s lead swelled to as much as 23 points as NLEX struggled to slow the Tropang 5G’s rhythm. Defensive stops consistently fueled transition chances, preventing any prolonged Road Warriors rally.

Heading powers the surge

Heading scored 30 of his 32 points after the opening quarter, repeatedly finding space off ball movement and broken coverage. He finished 11-of-19 from the field, knocked down four triples, and added five rebounds and four assists in a complete performance.

Calvin Oftana supplied 19 points, while Rey Nambatac added 15 as TNT showcased balanced offensive support. Glenn Khobuntin chipped in 11 markers, and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser anchored the glass with 12 rebounds to go with eight points off the bench.

NLEX dropped to a 6-4 record following its fourth loss of the conference and now faces added pressure in the race for a top-four finish and a twice-to-beat advantage. The Road Warriors must beat Converge in their next outing to stay in strong contention.

JB Bahio led NLEX with 13 points, matching Kevin Alas, after struggling offensively in the team’s previous game. The absence of Robert Bolick was evident as the Road Warriors failed to consistently counter TNT’s Heading-led bursts.