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PBA: Parks, TNT dispatch Phoenix to reach Philippine Cup finals

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/tvpatrol/11/25/pba.jpg"/><figcaption>Ray Parks Jr. is headed to his first PBA finals. PBA Media Bureau</figcaption></figure></div>A TNT Tropang Giga team that looked formidable on paper needed to dig deep to get to where they were expected to be. Thanks to talent and their tenacity, they&#x27;re playing for a PBA championship again.Ray Parks Jr. scored 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and TNT pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Phoenix Super LPG 91-81 on Friday to clinch a finals seat in the 2020 Philippine Cup. Simon Enciso added 12 points in the semifinals-clinching Game 5 at AUF Sports Arena in Angeles City, Pampanga, as Tropang Giga await the winner of the Barangay Ginebra-Meralco duel to find out their opponent in the title series. TNT last reached the All-Filipino finals in 2012, when it beat Rain Or Shine for the championship. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/25/20/pba-hot-shooting-tnt-forces-decider-against-phoenix-super-lpg">PBA: Hot-shooting TNT forces decider against Phoenix Super LPG</a></li></ul>&quot;It&#x27;s good to be back in the finals, we commend our players especially Ray. They really stepped up tonight,&quot; TNT head coach Bong Ravena said.Calvin Abueva tallied 23 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Fuel Masters, who lost the series after leading 2-1. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/25/20/pba-on-eve-of-late-dads-birthday-ray-parks-has-a-game-to-remember">PBA: On eve of late dad’s birthday, Ray Parks has a game to remember</a></li></ul>Tropang Giga, who never trailed in the game, didn&#x27;t take control until midway through the fourth quarter. Starting the fourth ahead 63-54, TNT attacked the basket early in the quarter and capped its run with a Roger Pogoy 3-pointer that put his team up 75-58. The Fuel Masters, who were cold from long distance, never recovered. They shot 8 of 41 from 3-point territory, with leading scorer Matthew Wright going 3 of 13 from long distance and 5 of 19 from the field overall. Pogoy, Jay Washington and Jayson Castro added 11 points each for TNT.But it was Parks&#x27;s versatility not just in the series clincher but throughout the semifinals that enabled Tropang Giga to reach the title series. He also had 6 assists and went 9 of 18 from the field. In playing 46 out of 48 minutes, he registered just 1 turnover. &quot;He proved na he&#x27;s a team player. He has matured. Nakikita naman &#x27;yung game niya,&quot; Ravena said of Parks. Parks, whose last taste of a championship was for San Miguel Alab Pilipinas in the 2018 ASEAN Basketball League, said the task isn&#x27;t over yet.&quot;We sacrificed 2 months, being away from our families. Let&#x27;s dedicate this to them, play our best,&quot; he said.&quot;It&#x27;s not easy being away from the family, it&#x27;s not easy playing in the bubble . . . But we&#x27;ve made it to the finals, it&#x27;s up to us to finish it.&quot;<div>From the archives:</div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KVeE6Cw0E74?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

Ray Parks Jr. scored 26 points, and TNT pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Phoenix 91-81 on Friday to clinch a finals seat in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup.

Ray Parks Jr. scored 26 points, and TNT pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Phoenix 91-81 on Friday to clinch a finals seat in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup.