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Tag: TNT Tropang 5G

  • Chot Reyes sees full-circle moment as RJ Abarrientos emerges as Ginebra’s rising force

    Chot Reyes sees full-circle moment as RJ Abarrientos emerges as Ginebra’s rising force

    Years ago, RJ Abarrientos was a young guard trying to earn a spot on the Gilas Pilipinas roster. Now, he enters the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals as one of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s biggest weapons and one of the players TNT coach Chot Reyes is most concerned about stopping.


    Ahead of the championship series, Reyes reflected on Abarrientos’ remarkable growth, recalling how he pushed for the then-rising guard to be included in the Gilas Pilipinas squad for the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup in Jakarta.

     

    “We always believed in the talent of RJ. I think that was the time when I was coaching for the Asia Cup with Coach Nenad (Vucinic) and RJ was there. I really fought hard to make sure that he was part of the line-up,” Reyes said.

     

    The former KBL Rookie of the Year has developed into one of Ginebra’s most important players, forming a potent trio with Justin Brownlee and Scottie Thompson while emerging as a leading candidate for the Best Player of the Conference award.

     

    His recent performances have been among the biggest reasons behind the Kings’ return to the Finals.

     

    Facing Rain or Shine in the semifinals, Abarrientos delivered when Ginebra needed him most, scoring 30 points in Game 5 before erupting for 31 points in Game 6. His 61-point output across the last two games of the series helped power the Kings into another title showdown with TNT.

     

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    For Reyes, the scoring explosion came as no surprise.

     

    “The way he is playing now is no surprise. I really thought that we needed that kind of player in that team before. Like I said, the first time we played them was in his rookie season. Now, he has grown and matured tremendously, hitting back-to-back 30-point games, 60 points in the last two games, that’s no joke, that’s not an accident,” said Reyes.

     

    The veteran coach also joked about how much Abarrientos has matured since his early days with the national team.

     

    “Baby RJ pa lang siya noon, ngayon mamang RJ na siya,” Reyes said during the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals press conference.

     

    When Ginebra and TNT met in the 2024 Governors’ Cup Finals, Abarrientos was still a rookie finding minutes behind veterans LA Tenorio and Thompson. Now, he has become a featured part of the Kings’ offense and a player capable of taking over games.

     

    That evolution makes him one of the key figures to watch in the Finals, where his production could play a major role in determining whether Ginebra captures another championship or TNT adds another title to its collection.

     

    Despite the growing attention and accolades, Abarrientos remains focused on embracing the larger responsibilities that come with his expanded role as Ginebra chases another crown against the TNT Tropang 5G on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

     

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  • One wants redemption, the other wants revenge as TNT and Ginebra renew finals rivalry 

    One wants redemption, the other wants revenge as TNT and Ginebra renew finals rivalry 

    For all the familiarity surrounding TNT and Barangay Ginebra, this Finals series is being fueled by something neither team has fully satisfied.

     

    Need.

     

    The names are familiar. The stage is familiar. Even the matchup has become a recurring chapter in the modern PBA era.

     

    But as the Tropang 5G and Gin Kings collide once more in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup Finals beginning Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, both sides arrive carrying unfinished business of their own.

     

    TNT enters the series as defending champion and a team making its fifth consecutive Finals appearance. Yet for a franchise accustomed to competing for trophies, recent memories have been less than satisfying.

     

     

    The Tropang 5G have reached the summit repeatedly, only to watch opportunities slip away in the last two conferences after falling short against San Miguel in consecutive Philippine Cup Finals.

     

    On the opposite side stands a Ginebra squad that has spent the better part of two years searching for answers against the very team standing in its way.

     

    The Gin Kings have not celebrated a championship since Season 47 and have suffered three straight Finals defeats at the hands of TNT, including last season’s Commissioner’s Cup heartbreak.

     

    That history gives this latest showdown a different feel.

     

    For Ginebra, it’s about finally turning the page.

     

    For TNT, it’s about proving last year’s championship was not the end of a run but the beginning of another.

     

    The sense of urgency is equally personal for several players.

     

    Stephen Holt has reached the Finals twice with Ginebra and twice watched TNT walk away with the trophy.

     

    “This is why we play — to win games and win championships. This is my fifth conference with the team and third finals appearance. So hopefully we can break through this moment. We definitely don’t want to take these moments for granted and hopefully we can get the job done this time,” said Holt.

     

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    Across the floor, Jordan Heading is chasing the same goal from a different direction.

     

    The TNT guard has already experienced the pain of falling short on the biggest stage and sees another opportunity to finally finish the job.

     

    “I guess there’s a chance, yeah? We’ll see,” said Heading.

     

    The hunger is shared by Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, who missed TNT’s championship runs in Season 49 due to injury and returned only to endure back-to-back Finals defeats.

     

    “I hope so. I’m just excited to go out and play some good basketball. You never want to take these opportunities for granted, coming here five times. We just play our game, rely on each other, do the things that got us here and hopefully this time we come out on the winning side,” he said.

     

    While much of the rivalry remains unchanged, this chapter introduces a new centerpiece.

     

    For the first time, Justin Brownlee and Chris McCullough will oppose each other in a PBA Finals.

     

    Brownlee remains the league’s gold standard among imports, while McCullough has transformed TNT since replacing the injured Bol Bol during the semifinals.

     

    Their duel could ultimately define the series.

     

    “It’s going to be an exciting matchup. I’ve known Chris (McCullough) for a long time, he’s a very versatile player. It’s definitely going to be a challenge for our team to contain him,” said Brownlee.

     

    McCullough’s arrival has also altered the way Ginebra views TNT.

     

    According to Gin Kings coach Tim Cone, the defending champions have rediscovered the identity that made them so difficult to beat.

     

    “I think they’re a lot more integrated now in terms of everybody contributing. I thought that when Mr. Bol was there, they really had a more difficult time trying to keep everybody involved,” said Cone.

     

    “Now they’re back to playing ‘Talk and Text’ brand of basketball and I think that that’s made them better, tougher in the coming series.”

     

    That may be what makes this Finals rematch different from the previous ones.

     

    TNT is no longer chasing validation.

     

    Ginebra is no longer simply chasing another Finals appearance.

     

    One side wants redemption after recent heartbreaks. The other wants revenge for years of frustration.

     

    And beginning Wednesday night, only one of them will move closer to finally getting it. 

     

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  • From New York workouts to the PBA Finals: Chris McCullough, Justin Brownlee set for long-awaited showdown 

    From New York workouts to the PBA Finals: Chris McCullough, Justin Brownlee set for long-awaited showdown 

    Long before they became two of the most recognizable imports to play in the PBA, Chris McCullough and Justin Brownlee were simply two basketball players at different stages of the same journey.

     

    One was a college standout chasing his dream. The other was a teenager trying to learn from those already living it.

     

    More than a decade later, their paths have converged once again — this time with a championship hanging in the balance.

     

    As TNT and Barangay Ginebra prepare for another blockbuster Commissioner’s Cup Finals showdown, one of the most intriguing storylines centers on the relationship between the two imports who will lead their respective teams.

     

    For McCullough, facing Brownlee is more than just another matchup.

     

    It’s a reminder of where his basketball journey began.

     

    “I was probably about 13 or something like that, maybe 14,” recalled McCullough during the pre-Finals press conference at Novotel Manila Araneta City.

     

    At the time, Brownlee was playing for St. John’s University in Queens, New York, while the young McCullough was growing up in the Bronx, still years away from becoming one of the country’s most sought-after basketball prospects.

     

    The future TNT reinforcement often found himself working out at the same college gym where Brownlee was sharpening his own game.

     

    “He was in college, and I used to go to that college to work out with him when I was really young,” said McCullough.

     

    Neither could have imagined then that their careers would eventually lead them across the world and into the center of one of Philippine basketball’s biggest rivalries.

     

    For Brownlee, the memories remain just as vivid.

     

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    Now 37 years old and on the verge of chasing a record seventh PBA championship, the Ginebra star still remembers the talented youngster who would later carve out a professional career of his own.

     

    “I think it’s gonna be an exciting matchup,” Brownlee said.

     

    “I’ve known Chris for a long time, when he was a lot younger.”

     

    What once felt like a mentor-and-prospect dynamic has evolved into a battle between two established stars tasked with carrying championship expectations.

     

    Brownlee understands exactly what kind of challenge awaits.

     

    “But he’s a very versatile player; he’s definitely going to be a challenge for our team to be able to not stop him but to contain him,” furthered the longtime Ginebra reinforcement.

     

    “We’re all looking forward to the challenge, though.”

     

    The respect is mutual.

     

    McCullough has already won a championship in the PBA and is seeking another, but he recognizes the significance of finally sharing the court with one of the league’s most decorated imports.

     

    Beyond the individual matchup, he believes the series itself has all the ingredients of a classic.

     

    “I think this is truly gonna be one of the PBA Finals that’s gonna be remembered for a long time. Great team, and we’re going up against a great player,” he said.

     

    “This is going to be one of the ones that’s gonna be remembered. I feel like both teams are preparing to get ready for it.”

     

    The Finals will ultimately be decided by much more than Brownlee versus McCullough.

     

    But as TNT and Ginebra renew their rivalry, the series also serves as a rare full-circle moment — one that began in a New York gym years ago and now reaches its biggest chapter on the PBA’s grandest stage.

     

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  • Chot Reyes embraces underdog tag as TNT sets up Finals collision with Ginebra 

    Chot Reyes embraces underdog tag as TNT sets up Finals collision with Ginebra 

    TNT Tropang 5G is heading back to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals, but inside the team’s locker room, there is little talk about defending a championship.


    Instead, head coach Chot Reyes sees a group that continues to survive against the odds. Moments after TNT escaped Meralco, 97-94, in Game 6 of the semifinals on Sunday night, Reyes immediately shifted the conversation toward the challenge waiting ahead — a Barangay Ginebra team he believes resembles a national squad more than a typical PBA opponent.

     

    “We’re coming in as huge underdogs,” said Reyes.

     

    For a team that has reached five straight Finals appearances, the statement may sound surprising. But Reyes pointed to the sheer firepower standing on the other side of the bracket.

     

    “We’re basically playing Gilas, and the (greatest of all time) of all imports in JB,” the veteran coach added. 

     

    The TNT mentor was referring to a Ginebra roster loaded with national team mainstays and veterans, including Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, RJ Abarrientos, Troy Rosario, and resident import Justin Brownlee, all playing under multi-titled coach Tim Cone.

     

    The Finals matchup materialized only hours after both teams survived their respective semifinal battles at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

     

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    Ginebra punched the first ticket to the championship round after eliminating Rain or Shine, 118-107, behind another vintage performance from Brownlee and a breakout scoring night from Abarrientos. Brownlee delivered 31 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block, while Abarrientos erupted for 30 points, seven assists, and six rebounds as the Gin Kings closed out the series, 4-2.

     

    The Tropang 5G followed a few hours later, although their path proved far more nerve-racking. TNT appeared headed for a comfortable finish after building a 91-77 advantage in the fourth quarter against Meralco. 

     

    But the Bolts refused to go away, trimming the deficit and eventually forcing a 94-94 deadlock after a furious rally. With the game hanging in the balance, Jordan Heading produced the biggest sequence of the night, converting a clutch three-point play with 42.1 seconds left to restore TNT’s lead for good.

     

    Heading finished with 30 points on an efficient 9-of-13 shooting clip, helping TNT survive despite losing import Chris McCullough to fouls in the closing minutes. McCullough still contributed 22 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out, while Calvin Oftana added 12 markers. Meralco import Patrick Gardner paced the Bolts with 32 points and 13 rebounds in the losing effort.

     

    What makes TNT’s Finals return even more remarkable is how different this team looks compared to the one that captured last conference’s title.

     

    The Tropang 5G entered the playoffs as the No. 8 seed and needed to survive a dangerous twice-to-beat disadvantage against NLEX just to advance. Yet somehow, TNT keeps finding ways to win.

     

    Last conference, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led the charge as TNT defeated Ginebra in seven games to capture the Commissioner’s Cup crown. This time, the roster has changed, the road has been tougher, and the expectations outside the organization appear lower.

     

    That may be exactly how Reyes wants it. Rather than dwelling on predictions, the veteran coach insists TNT’s focus remains on the process that carried them through adversity.

     

    “We’ll just go through our process. The outcome, we have no control over that,” he said.

     

    “The only control we have is with our process and effort, and if we stick to those, we give ourselves a chance.”

     

    Now, another chapter will be added to one of the PBA’s most compelling rivalries.

     

    Game 1 of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals between TNT and Barangay Ginebra is set on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, where the defending champions will once again attempt to prove that being underestimated can sometimes be their biggest advantage.

     

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  • Jordan Heading sends TNT back to the Finals for another crack at Ginebra

    Jordan Heading sends TNT back to the Finals for another crack at Ginebra

    For TNT, the road back to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals wasn’t about surviving another semifinal grind — it was about earning one more chance.

     

    And when Meralco refused to go quietly, the defending champions leaned on the same identity that carried them through another long conference: composure, timely execution, and someone stepping up when it mattered most.

     

    The Tropang 5G looked headed for a comfortable finish after building a double-digit lead, only for the Bolts to storm back and force a 94-all deadlock inside the final two minutes. With momentum suddenly swinging and Chris McCullough already sent to the bench after fouling out, TNT needed one more answer.

     

    Jordan Heading had it.

     

    The lefty guard calmly converted a three-point play after drawing contact from Patrick Gardner before the clock hit the final minute — a sequence that ultimately became the dagger in TNT’s 97-94 Game 6 victory at the Ynares Center.

     

    And just like that, the Finals rematch became official.

     

    TNT will face Barangay Ginebra once again in what has quickly become one of the league’s most recurring championship matchups — their fourth Finals meeting in the last eight conferences.

     

    But even as expectations rise around another heavyweight showdown, coach Chot Reyes made sure to frame the assignment differently.

     

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    “We’re coming in as the underdogs, playing basically the Philippine national team,” Reyes said.

     

    The statement carried its usual edge, but also reflected the reality of facing a Ginebra side built around championship experience and massive fan support.

     

    Heading, though, wasn’t interested in looking too far ahead.

     

    After dropping the previous Finals against the same opponent, the veteran guard knows exactly what another opportunity means.

     

    “That means everything,” Heading said.

     

    “When you lose in the Finals, that sticks with you the whole offseason, the whole next season, the whole preseason. That’s what you’re thinking about.”

     

    For TNT, the chance to rewrite that ending comes with familiar faces and familiar stakes.

     

    Heading finished with 30 points to lead the closeout, while McCullough added 22 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists before exiting. Calvin Oftana chipped in 12 as the Tropang 5G secured a fifth straight Finals appearance.

     

    For a team that has stayed near the top despite constant roster movement and pressure to repeat, the mission remains unchanged.

     

    Win another one. Finish the story this time.

     

    Because if there’s anything Heading made clear — TNT isn’t satisfied with just getting another crack at it.

     

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  • Patrick Gardner adjusting quickly as Meralco pushes through semis 

    Patrick Gardner adjusting quickly as Meralco pushes through semis 

    Less than two weeks after Patrick Gardner saw his championship hopes collapse in Japan, the American-Egyptian big man suddenly found himself in Manila — wearing a Meralco jersey and stepping into the pressure of a semifinal series.


    The 26-year-old arrived in the PBA carrying unfinished business after his Fukushima Firebonds suffered a devastating sweep against the Kobe Storks in the Japanese B. League Division 2 Finals last May 17. 

     

    The defeat cost Fukushima both the title and a coveted promotion to Division 1. 

     

    Instead of heading into vacation mode, Gardner was suddenly thrown into another playoff war after Meralco replaced Marvin Jones following the Bolts’ Game 3 defeat to an all-Filipino TNT Tropang 5G squad.

     

    “This kind of happened very quick, and I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to play in a country like this with such big basketball fans, and I jumped on it,” Gardner said.

     

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    “Well, I was expecting to go into my off season, and then like I was taking a rest for a week, and then I got the call for this opportunity, and yeah, I started to get back into the gym,” he added.

     

    In his PBA debut during Meralco’s Game 4 semifinal clash, Gardner immediately gave the Bolts the interior presence they badly needed. Despite fouling out with 3:26 remaining, he still produced 20 points, 13 rebounds, and three assists to help Meralco stay alive in the series.

     

    “I don’t want to lose in the championship again… I still have the hunger,” he said.

     

    Gardner admitted his debut was far from perfect, especially with the adjustment to PBA officiating and physicality, but the victory mattered more than the mistakes.

     

    “I’m just happy we won the game, ultimately. Like, it’s my first game here, so ultimately I think that was most important. But, yeah, I think I had a good game. Had six fouls, so that wasn’t good, but it’s a learning curve. So I’m just here to keep learning and getting better,” the American-Egyptian player said.

     

    Meralco head coach Luigi Trillo appreciated not only Gardner’s production, but also the circumstances surrounding it. The import had barely joined the team, was still recovering from a grueling Finals run in Japan, and even battled cramps throughout the game.

     

    “He’s fresh from the Japanese Division 2. He just played, I think, in the finals. So, 10 days off. Pero ‘yun nga sinasabi niya, palagi ‘pag first game of the season kahit saan na-ccramps daw siya,” Trillo added.

     

    Although Gardner previously played in the Philippines during the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup with the Egyptian national team, he admitted the PBA remains a completely different challenge.

     

    “It’s definitely an adjustment compared to Japan or G League or college or anything. But the fans are great. I mean, right when we walked on the court, it was just a full crowd, so, yeah, it was nice,” he shared.

     

    With Meralco still chasing control of the best-of-seven semifinal series, Gardner acknowledged he wishes he had more time to learn the system and build chemistry with the team. But the Bolts no longer have the luxury of waiting.

     

    Now, just days after turning personal disappointment into a crucial Game 4 response, Gardner and Meralco head back to the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday for another pivotal showdown against TNT Tropang 5G in Game 5.

     

     

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  • Chris McCullough warns TNT critics: “Once I get going, it will be scary” 

    Chris McCullough warns TNT critics: “Once I get going, it will be scary” 

    Chris McCullough did not hide from the struggles of his TNT debut. Instead, he treated it as only the beginning.

     

    Thrown into a pressure-packed semifinal series with barely any time to adjust, the former San Miguel import admitted he is still far from the version of himself PBA fans once feared — a reality he believes should worry the rest of the league once he finally settles in.

     

    After TNT absorbed a 101-90 loss to Meralco in Game 4 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals on Wednesday night, McCullough made it clear that rust, not readiness, defined his first game back in the league.

     

    “I haven’t played basketball in 13 days — this is my first time picking up a basketball in 13 days,” he said after the defeat at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

     

    “So I’m still getting my rhythm, still getting my flow. But once I get going, it will be scary.”

     

    The warning came after a mixed opening performance that showed flashes of the high-scoring reinforcement TNT hopes can help carry them back to the Finals following the devastating injury to Bol Bol.

     

    McCullough still produced 24 points and nine rebounds despite obvious timing issues, shooting just 7-of-22 from the field while missing all five of his attempts from beyond the arc.

     

    Yet even amid the inefficiency, there were signs of life.

     

    The 31-year-old forward slowly found his footing in the second half, where he scored 17 of his total points as TNT tried to erase a growing Meralco lead.

     

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    For stretches, the Tropang 5G looked close to pulling off another comeback behind McCullough’s aggressiveness attacking the basket and earning trips to the foul line, where he converted 10 of 15 attempts.

     

    But Meralco simply had fresher legs late in the game.

     

    CJ Cansino, Javee Mocon, and Cliff Hodge delivered the key plays down the stretch as the Bolts tied the series at 2-2 and spoiled McCullough’s return.

     

    Even so, the veteran import sounded more focused on long-term adjustment than immediate frustration.

     

    With less than 48 hours before the pivotal Game 5, McCullough emphasized that his biggest task now is building chemistry with a TNT team he has barely practiced with since arriving in Manila.

     

    “Chemistry is regular. I know some of the guys,” he said.

     

    “I’ve only had two days of practice, so tomorrow, we’re gonna work on some things, see what works, and come back Friday.”

     

    For TNT, that may be the most important takeaway from Game 4 — not what McCullough currently is, but what he could become once the rust fully disappears. 

     

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  • CJ Cansino hits big 4-pointer as Meralco downs TNT to tie semis series at 2-2 

    CJ Cansino hits big 4-pointer as Meralco downs TNT to tie semis series at 2-2 

    Sophomore guard CJ Cansino drilled a clutch four-point shot in the final minutes to help the Meralco Bolts stave off a late TNT rally and secure a 101-90 victory, tying the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup semifinals at 2-2 on Wednesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

     

    With Meralco’s 11-point lead trimmed down to just three, 93-90, following a corner triple by TNT’s Roger Pogoy, Cansino launched a booming 27-foot four-pointer under heavy defensive pressure. The shot found the bottom of the net with 1:21 remaining, stretching the lead to 97-90 and effectively halting the Tropang Giga’s comeback attempt.

     

    Cansino finished the match with 17 points, a significant jump from his 8.3-point average over the first three games of the series.

     

    “Mas natuto lang kami sa past games namin. And ‘yung composure namin mas kailangan pa… diinan pa, kasi ganu’n palagi nagiging problema namin eh,” said Cansino after the game.

     

    The Bolts closed out the game on an 8-0 run, highlighted by a putback from Javee Mocon and a driving layup by Cliff Hodge, keeping TNT scoreless for the remainder of the contest. The win turns the all-MVP Group matchup into a virtual best-of-three series.

     

    The strong finish also handed new Meralco import Patrick Gardner a victorious debut. The American-Egyptian forward anchored the Bolts with a double-double of 20 points, including three three-pointers, and 13 rebounds before fouling out of the game with 3:26 left on the clock.

     

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    Head coach Luigi Trillo credited his team’s focus after losing their reinforcement down the stretch.

     

    “They found their rhythm there, even with Patrick fouling out,” Trillo said. “I thought we did a good job as a team keeping our poise not only on offense but defense as well.”

     

    Meralco displayed balanced scoring across the board. Mocon recorded his own double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, Aaron Black chipped in 12 markers, and Chris Newsome added 11 points to provide solid offensive support.

     

    The Bolts’ defensive effort spoiled the PBA comeback of TNT’s new import Chris McCullough. The former champion with San Miguel led the Tropang Giga with 24 points and nine rebounds but struggled from the floor, shooting just 7-of-22.

     

    Jordan Heading contributed 15 points for TNT, while Pogoy and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser tallied 14 apiece. Calvin Oftana rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Tropa with 10 points.

     

    Game 5 of the series is scheduled for Friday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. 

     

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  • TNT activates Chris McCullough as semifinal series enters pivotal Game 4

    TNT activates Chris McCullough as semifinal series enters pivotal Game 4

    Just days after losing the centerpiece of its semifinal run, TNT is once again reshaping itself on the fly — this time with a familiar name stepping into the spotlight.

     

    Chris McCullough has officially been activated as the Tropang 5G’s new import ahead of Game 4 of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup semifinals, signaling the start of a dramatically different chapter in TNT’s title defense.

     

    The former San Miguel reinforcement was formally inserted into the active roster after Malick Diouf was moved to the team’s injured/reserve list, according to an official league memo released Tuesday.

     

    The move finalizes TNT’s emergency import transition following the devastating Achilles injury suffered by Bol Bol in Game 2 of the series against Meralco.

     

    In many ways, McCullough now inherits a situation far different from the one TNT originally envisioned entering the semifinals.

     

    Bol had quickly become the centerpiece of the Tropang 5G’s playoff attack before his sudden injury forced the defending champions to improvise almost overnight. The uncertainty became even more chaotic when Diouf — initially lined up to replace Bol — failed to secure clearance in time to suit up for Game 3.

     

    Instead of folding under the circumstances, TNT responded with one of its grittiest performances of the conference.

     

    Playing without an import, the Tropang 5G escaped with a tense 77-75 victory over Meralco last Sunday to grab a 2-1 lead in the series.

     

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    Watching from the sidelines that night was McCullough himself.

     

    Fresh off his arrival in the Philippines, the former PBA champion import made the trip to the SM Mall of Asia Arena and witnessed firsthand the kind of fight TNT produced despite the absence of a reinforcement.

     

    Now, the responsibility shifts directly to him.

     

    McCullough will make his TNT debut in Game 4 as the Tropang 5G attempt to move within one win of another Finals appearance. Across the floor, Meralco will also unveil a new reinforcement in Patrick Gardner, setting up a rare scenario where both semifinal teams enter a crucial game integrating fresh imports at the same time.

     

    For TNT, however, McCullough’s arrival offers more than just size and scoring.

     

    Unlike many mid-series replacements, the 6-foot-10 forward already understands the demands of the PBA environment. He previously powered San Miguel to a Commissioner’s Cup championship and has long been regarded as one of the more versatile imports to play in the league.

     

    That familiarity could prove critical for a TNT squad trying to preserve momentum while adjusting to another major roster change in the middle of a heated semifinal battle.

     

    The challenge now is whether McCullough can seamlessly continue what Bol started — and help carry TNT the rest of the way toward another championship run.

     

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  • TNT seek to strengthen semifinal hold and take 3-1 lead over Meralco amid import shake-up 

    TNT seek to strengthen semifinal hold and take 3-1 lead over Meralco amid import shake-up 

    Game 4 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals arrives with more than just a series lead on the line, it carries the weight of constant adjustments and shifting import dynamics between TNT Tropang 5G and Meralco Bolts.


    Set Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the matchup sees TNT holding a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series, despite a turbulent stretch that saw them play without an import and still emerge with a crucial Game 3 escape act.

     

    Even in adversity, TNT proved its resilience. Stripped of an import following the season-ending injury to Bol Bol during a prior outing, the Tropang 5G absorbed a 76-87 defeat that briefly tied the series before responding with a narrow but vital 77-75 victory last Sunday.

     

    That Game 3 win was defined by composure rather than comfort as RR Pogoy delivered the decisive moment, drilling a go-ahead three-pointer in the final seconds after Chris Newsome briefly gave Meralco a late 75-74 edge. 

     

    The Bolts had one last chance to extend the game, but missed close-range attempts sealed their fate and handed TNT a hard-earned series lead.

     

    Now, both teams enter Game 4 with significantly altered arsenals. TNT is set to welcome back former San Miguel import Chris McCullough, a familiar presence in the conference who previously powered a championship run in 2019. 

     

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    While he stands shorter than the injured Bol Bol, McCullough’s inside-out versatility and experience are expected to provide TNT with both stability and scoring balance.

     

    On the other side, Meralco is responding with a major gamble of its own, bringing in new import Patrick Gardner to replace Marvin Jones after a difficult stretch in the series.

     

    Jones had been productive statistically with 20 points and 14 rebounds per game, but efficiency issues and inconsistent finishing mirrored Meralco’s broader offensive struggles. The Bolts now hope Gardner’s size and presence can provide a different dimension immediately in his PBA debut.

     

    Still, the biggest challenge may not be the imports themselves — but how the locals adapt around them.

     

    For Meralco, Chris Newsome has carried much of the offensive burden, averaging 15 points per game, while support from CJ Cansino, Cliff Hodge, Bong Quinto, and Chris Banchero has been inconsistent throughout the series.

     

    In contrast, TNT has maintained a more balanced attack, with contributions spread across Calvin Oftana, Pogoy, Jordan Heading, and rotational support from Rey Nambatac and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.

     

    With both teams introducing new imports at a critical stage of the series, Game 4 is shaping up less as a continuation and more as a reset.

     

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