MANILA, Philippines — TNT torched San Miguel Beer with 14 three-point shots en route to a 110-87 runaway win to tie the series at 2-2 in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Calvin Oftana caught fire for TNT as he scorer a game-high 29 points on 5-of-8 shooting from three-point country.
Jordan Heading added 17 and six assists, with the left-handed T T guard helping his team speed off to a 35-17 start in the opening period. The Tropang 5G went on to finish with 14-of-31 shooting from three-point range.
The win was a big bounceback for TNT, which just last Sunday suffered a 95-89 loss to San Miguel.
June Mar Fajardo, who won his 13th Best Player of the Conference award earlier, led the Beermen with 18 points and 16 rebounds.
Meanwhile, NLEX has parted ways with assistant coach Siot Tanquingcen in an official statement released on Wednesday while head coach Jong Uichico stays as the team prepares for the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup.
“Coach Siot was an integral part of the Road Warriors' coaching staff, bringing professionalism, strong basketball acumen, and a genuine commitment to player development,” NLEX wrote in its statement.
“Despite his short tenure, his contributions had a lasting and meaningful impact on both the team and the overall program.” The NLEX ballclub also confirmed through the same statement that the team and Tanquingcen have “mutually agreed not to extend his initial contract.” The 53-year-old Tanquingcen won three PBA championships as head coach back then with Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer.
He would be named PBA Coach of the Year during the 2004-05 season.
The amiable Tanquingcen has had a long coaching partnership with Uichico dating back to their time together with SMB and Ginebra over two decades ago.
Borgie Hermida has been promoted to first assistant coach, taking the spot of Tanquingcen.
Uichico, who has won nine championships as a PBA head coach, came in to take the spot of Frankie Lim just before the start of the 2024 season.
The multi-titled PBA coach though could only guide the Road Warriors to the quarterfinals in his first four conferences at the helm.
NLEX took a quick playoff exit in the Philippine Cup Season 50 after bowing to top seed San Miguel in the quarterfinals, 101-94.