Written by: Raykiesha Herrera
MANILA, Philippines — Calvin Oftana and TNT leaned on suffocating second-half defense and timely scoring to overcome a rough start and secure a thrilling Game 1 victory over sister team Meralco in their PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series.
The Tropang 5G rebounded from a 62–46 halftime deficit, holding their defense with timely led by Oftana to draw first blood in their best-of-seven matchup.
“Really happy with the way we played in the second half,” said Oftana, who finished with 28 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. “Giving up 62 points in the first half was really a wake-up call.”
TNT trailed by as many as 21 points in the second quarter, with Oftana carrying much of the offensive load early as the team struggled.
Momentum shifted after halftime as Rey Nambatac, RR Pogoy, Jordan Heading, and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser provided crucial contributions, turning the contest into a tight back-and-forth battle in the final period.
Oftana sealed the turnaround late, converting a three-point play and assisting on a basket by Ganuelas-Rosser to give TNT the lead for good at 86–81 with under three minutes remaining.
Despite the win, Oftana emphasized the need for consistency moving forward, acknowledging that similar challenges could arise.
“We’re happy that we won, but it’s still a long series and we’ll be ready for Game 2,” Oftana said.
Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
THE CARVER 
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