TNT Tropang 5G’s Calvin Oftana during a PBA Philippine Cup game against San Miguel Beermen. –PBA IMAGES
ANTIPOLO—Calvin Oftana delivered his first career 20-20 game while Simon Enciso frustrated his former team with a dagger three as TNT defeated San Miguel Beer, 89-84, on Sunday to finally get its first win in the PBA Philippine Cup at Ynares Center here.
Oftana had 23 points and 21 rebounds with six assists to lead the Tropang 5G into the win column after an alarming three straight losses to begin their quest for a historic Grand Slam in the season-ending tournament.
READ: PBA: Calvin Oftana delivers beyond scoring with rebounding show
Enciso added 13 points, including a corner triple with 48 seconds left that gave TNT an 86-80 lead before flashing his trademark arrow gesture to the team he won two championships with during his San Miguel stint from 2021 to 2025.
He also dished out his only assist of the contest that led to the decisive shot courtesy of RR Pogoy, who also took a corner trey that made it 89-82, with time down to 13 seconds.
TNT Tropang 5G’s Simon Enciso during a PBA Philippine Cup game against San Miguel Beermen. –PBA IMAGES
TNT coach Chot Reyes expressed relief over the victory after being handed stinging losses at the hands of NLEX, Converge and Phoenix, the last being a 14-point setback in Montalban two nights ago.
READ: PBA: Phoenix sends TNT to worst start since 2000 All-Filipino
San Miguel dropped to 3-2 despite 26 points from CJ Perez and 21 points plus 14 boards from June Mar Fajardo. The Beermen led by seven in the first half, but TNT got the lead at the half and even went up by 11 in the fourth.
Juami Tiongson, who added 15, tried to help the Beermen come back with his threes, but the Tropang 5G made the big plays down the stretch behind Oftana and Enciso.
TNT will be hoping to use the win as a springboard for a potential turnaround, with slumping Terrafirma next on the schedule this Friday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
San Miguel’s next game is Sunday against Phoenix at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
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