Camille Naredo

Jordan Heading in action for TNT against Magnolia in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup, December 21, 2025 at the Araneta Coliseum. PBA Media



Jordan Heading in action for TNT against Magnolia in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup, December 21, 2025 at the Araneta Coliseum.

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PBA Season 50

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1766317304469PBA IMAGES16.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Jordan Heading in action for TNT against Magnolia in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup, December 21, 2025 at the Araneta Coliseum. PBA Media" width="960"/>Jordan Heading in action for TNT against Magnolia in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup, December 21, 2025 at the Araneta Coliseum. PBA Media</div>MANILA -- The TNT Tropang 5G will head into the quarterfinals of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup with a twice-to-beat advantage, after a 94-83 win against Magnolia on Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum.The hard-earned win gave the Tropang 5G an 8-3 win-loss record and the third seed in the quarterfinals.It remains to be seen who they will play in the first phase of the playoffs, but TNT has strong momentum after ending the elimination round with three straight victories.&quot;We had no illusions that this was gonna be a walk in the park for us. We knew they were going to come back, and when they did make their comeback, I thought our composure and our defense in the end spelled the difference,&quot; TNT coach Chot Reyes said after the game.The Tropang 5G&#x27;s victory also spoiled LA Tenorio&#x27;s stint as a playing-coach for the Hotshots.Magnolia had activated Tenorio from its reserve list after star guard Paul Lee was sidelined by a hamstring injury in their loss to Rain or Shine last Monday in Bahrain.Lee joined Jerom Lastimosa on the bench, with the latter suffering an ankle sprain also against the Elasto Painters.Tenorio wound up starting for Magnolia but he couldn&#x27;t keep the Hotshots from falling behind, 20-27, after the opening period. The Tropang 5G would go on to lead by as many as 19 points, 70-51, in the third quarter. A flurry of buckets from rookie Yukien Andrada got them within four points, 78-74, with still over seven minutes to go, but TNT responded with big shots from Jordan Heading, Henry Galinato and Calvin Oftana to restore order.A corner triple from Oftana made it a double-digit lead once more, 86-76, and the Hotshots faded from there.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1766317327626PBA IMAGES12.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="LA Tenorio and Zavier Lucero of Magnolia during their game against TNT in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup, December 21, 2025 at the Araneta Coliseum. PBA Media" width="960"/>LA Tenorio and Zavier Lucero of Magnolia during their game against TNT in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup, December 21, 2025 at the Araneta Coliseum. PBA Media</div>&quot;So it was nice that we got a big lead, we got a bit of a cushion there. But we knew that Magnolia was gonna comeback. The key, when they made their run, was to just stay composed and just keep our composure, keep our wits around us to be able to weather that storm,&quot; said Reyes.Heading made 8-of-11 shots -- including three four-point baskets -- on his way to 23 points before fouling out in the final minute. Oftana finished with 17 points and nine boards.Zavier Lucero had 17 points and nine rebounds for the Hothsots, while Andrada scored 12 markers and grabbed nine boards in his PBA debut. Tenorio had four points and three assists in a 13-minute stint for Magnolia.The loss gave the Hotshots a 6-5 win-loss record to finish the elimination round.<div> </div><div>The Scores:</div>TNT 94 – Heading 23, Oftana 17, Nambatac 11, Williams 11, Pogoy 10, Ganuelas-Rosser 9, Jalalon 7, Galinato 4, Khobuntin 2, Ferrer 0, Aurin 0MAGNOLIA 83 – Lucero 17, Barroca 16, Sangalang 12, Andrada 12, Gomez de Liano 9, Dela Rosa 6, Alfaro 5, Tenorio 4, Koon 2, Verano 0, Laput 0, Escoto 0QUARTERS: 27-20, 47-38, 7462, 94-83

The TNT Tropang 5G will head into the quarterfinals of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup with a twice-to-beat advantage, after a 94-83 win against Magnolia on Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

The TNT Tropang 5G will head into the quarterfinals of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup with a twice-to-beat advantage, after a 94-83 win against Magnolia on Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

PBA: TNT clinches q'finals bonus, spoils Tenorio's stint as playing-coach for Magnolia

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PBA: TNT clinches q'finals bonus, spoils Tenorio's stint as playing-coach for Magnolia

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 21, 2025 07:42 PM PHT

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