TNT rode a huge second half storm and turned back Phoenix, 108-101, to keep itself in the hunt for the twice-to-beat advantage in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Wednesday, April 24.

The Tropang Giga gave the Fuel Masters a dose of their own medicine, catching fire from deep to anchor a 42-point third quarter explosion to erase a once huge 23-point deficit.

TNT got back on the winning track after a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Barangay Ginebra last time out to list its fifth win through nine games, enough for the solo fifth spot in the standings.

RR Pogoy led the attack with 23 points and eight rebounds while Calvin Oftana added 19 points and nine rebounds. 

The Tropang Giga also got solid contributions from Glenn Khobuntin and Kim Aurin, who, at one point, nailed four consecutive triples – the last of which gave TNT the lead for the first time, 79-76, since the first half.

More than the offensive explosion, however, it was Kelly Williams who keyed the second half run, anchoring the defense for TNT and forcing Phoenix to some stretches of scoring droughts.

Williams actually turned back the hands of time and poured in a double-double of 17 points, 13 rebounds and two steals. Aurin and Khobuntin, meanwhile, chipped in 11 and 12, respectively.

Hardly cooling down from its hard shooting in the victory against NLEX, Phoenix came out firing from deep with 10 triples in the first half – the last one from Jjay Alejandro that made it 62-39 for the Fuel Masters.

TNT, however, came alive in the third frame with Oftana, Pogoy and Williams spearheading a pivotal 19-4 run that allowed TNT to close in 65-71.

There was simply no slowing down from there as, after taking the lead late in the third frame, the Tropang Giga went on and erected with a 10-point lead, 100-90, before fending off a last ditch run from Phoenix.

Jason Perkins led his team with 26 points but was slowed down by TNT defense in the second half, only scoring six after scattering 22 in the first two quarters. 

Alejandro and rookie Ricci Rivero had 16 and 13 points – efforts that proved to be futile in the end as the Fuel Masters failed to string together back-to-back wins that could have given them a better shot in the playoffs.

Instead, Phoenix fell to a 3-6 late, dimming its chances of advancing to the next round.