TNT finds its edge late, Bol Bol punishes NLEX collapse

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TNT Tropang 5G bounced back in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup with a 103-97 win over NLEX Road Warriors on Sunday, March 22 at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.

The PBA Commissioner’s Cup contest saw TNT recover from a previous loss by delivering a strong finish, outscoring NLEX 37-25 in the fourth quarter to secure its first win of the conference.

A dominant performance from the team’s import led the way, providing consistent scoring and interior presence throughout the game while anchoring the late surge.

Bol Bol during his 40-point performance for TNT. [PBA Images]

Strong fourth-quarter finish lifts TNT

The PBA Commissioner’s Cup matchup shifted in the final period as TNT tightened its defense and executed offensively. Key stops down the stretch allowed the team to halt NLEX’s momentum after the Road Warriors entered the fourth quarter with a 72-66 lead.

Head coach Chot Reyes credited the team’s defensive effort as the difference-maker in the win.

“NLEX is a tough team to play. They’re the most disciplined team in the league. They’re making great play after great play. It’s our ability to make a stop that determined the victory,” Reyes said.

The fourth-quarter run proved decisive as TNT capitalized on defensive stops and converted on the other end to complete the comeback.

Import leads balanced TNT attack

The PBA Commissioner’s Cup victory was powered by a dominant 40-point, 15-rebound performance from TNT’s import, who also added two blocks and an assist in a heavy 43-minute workload.

He delivered 14 points in the fourth quarter alone, fueling the decisive closing run that turned the game in TNT’s favor.

Support came from Jordan Heading, who contributed 15 points, four assists, four steals, and two rebounds, while Calvin Oftana and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser added 14 points each.

On the other side, NLEX received a strong outing from import Cady Lalanne, who finished with 25 points and 21 rebounds, while Robert Bolick orchestrated the offense with nine assists.

Despite holding a lead entering the final period, NLEX could not match TNT’s late-game execution and fell to 2-1 in the conference.

The win marked TNT’s first victory in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, showing resilience and improved execution after a difficult previous outing.