TNT Tropang 5G Dominate Titan Ultra, Grab Solo Lead in Style

on
by Lou Reyes

TNT's Henry Galinato (32) goes for a layup against Titan Ultra.
TNT's Henry Galinato (32) goes for a layup against Titan Ultra. Photo: PBA Images.

TNT Tropang 5G made a loud statement Friday night, torching the short-handed Titan Ultra Giant Risers, 130–92, to seize solo leadership in the PBA Season 500 Philippine Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.

From start to finish, the Tropang 5G were all business, swarming on defense, raining buckets from all angles, and showing the depth that makes them a legit title contender this conference.

Bench spark Henry Galinato delivered one of his best games yet, topping the squad with 16 points, while Mike Nieto chipped in 15. They led a balanced TNT attack that saw six players hit double figures, including Calvin Oftana (14), Tyrus Hill (12), Glenn Khobuntin (11), and Roger Pogoy (10), proof that Coach Chot Reyes has a full arsenal ready to fire on any given night.

By halftime, TNT was already in cruise control, holding a massive 62–38 lead, and they never took their foot off the gas. The result? The biggest blowout of the season so far, surpassing Converge’s earlier 129–92 rout of the same Titan squad.

TNT's Calvin Oftana (8) runs through 3 Titan Ultra defenders.
TNT's Calvin Oftana (8) runs through 3 Titan Ultra defenders. Photo: PBA Images. 

Not even the return of Calvin Abueva could spark life into Titan Ultra, who dropped to 1–3 after back-to-back crushing defeats to Magnolia and now TNT. Joshua Munzon tried to keep things competitive with 20 points, but the Giant Risers simply couldn’t match the Tropang 5G’s firepower and energy.

For TNT, this win wasn’t just another number in the standings; it was a statement of intent. After a solid 3–1 start, they now sit alone atop the leaderboard, while Rain or Shine’s win over Blackwater created a four-way logjam for second at 2–1 with Magnolia, NLEX, and Converge.

Coach Reyes couldn’t have asked for a better showcase from his crew; crisp ball movement, relentless pace, and a collective hunger to dominate. If the Tropang 5G keep this kind of form, the rest of the league might be playing catch-up sooner than expected.

TNT is not just leading, they’re setting the tone for the entire Philippine Cup.

The Scores:

TNT 130 - Galinato 16, Nieto 15, Oftana 14, Hill 12, Khobuntin 11, Pogoy 10, Rosser 9, Aurin 9, Nambatac 8, Heading 8, Williams 8, Enciso 5, Jalalon 5, Varilla 0.

Titan Ultra 92 - Munzon 20, Yu 16, Abueva 15, Pessumal 10, Ular 8, Flores 8, Ambohot 4, Balanza 4, Koon 3, Sumang 2, Barasi 2, Cuntapay 0, Martinez 0.

Quarterscores: 22-19, 62-38, 99-63, 130-92