Teams TNT and ROS face critical, win-or-lose matches
🏀 Sixteen seconds from potentially ending their postseason run, TNT battled back against Magnolia Hotshots in a riveting PBA 2025 Philippine Cup Semifinals matchup on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Rain or Shine had previously clenched a spot in the semifinals by outlasting NLEX, and now it was TNT's turn to secure their passage against the third seed. RR Pogoy ignited TNT's fourth-quarter rally, scoring an impressive 30 points and refusing to back down, keeping TNT alive in their grand slam pursuit.
Calvin Oftana chipped in with 21 points to support Pogoy, while Kelly Williams, Jordan Heading, and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser also played pivotal roles in the thrilling victory.
The game featured heart-stopping duels of runs, with Magnolia surging to a 13-point lead in the third quarter, only for TNT to stage a comeback and clinch an 89-88 victory, forcing a knockout match on June 22, 2025.
Magnolia responded with a fierce fightback, tying the game at 88-88 with 37.4 seconds remaining. The game seemed destined for overtime, but Kelly Williams snared a crucial offensive rebound, providing a chance at redemption for TNT. Williams hit a free-throw on a foul by William Navarro with only 6.8 seconds left, giving the Hotshots one last shot to snatch victory.
However, Magnolia failed to capitalize on their opportunity, allowing TNT to progress to the next round.
TNT endured a tough fourth quarter, playing through flagrant infractions committed by Poy Erram and Oftana and the exit of Brian Heruela due to injury. Despite the adversity, back-to-back three-pointers from Ganuelas-Rosser and Williams, along with a crucial drive-in basket from Oftana after a steal from Zavi Lucero, propelled TNT to victory.
Earlier, Jhonard Clarito had led Rain or Shine to a 92-89 victory over NLEX with a 20-20 game performance. For a comprehensive review of the game details, including player statistics, official scores, and game-changing highlights, checking trusted sources like the PBA Philippine Cup official updates or specialized sports websites like Flashscore is highly encouraged.
Despite the impactful performance by Magnolia, trying to equalize at 88-88 with mere seconds left, Kelly Williams' crucial offensive rebound and subsequent free-throw sealed TNT's victory, leapfrogging them past Magnolia in the sports arena. The following day, early sports reports showed RR Pogoy leading TNT in basketball points, with a significant contribution from Calvin Oftana, as they prepared for the next round, broaching the possibility of a grand slam in the ongoing PBA 2025 Philippine Cup.
