Bobby Ray Parks Jr. put TNT Tropang Giga back to the finals after leading the Manuel V. Pangilinan franchise to a 91-81 win over Phoenix Super LPG on Friday in the do-or-die Game five of the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup semifinals at the Angeles University Foundation gym in Pampanga.
Parks Jr. had the last laugh in the series, posting 15 of his 26 points in the payoff period to add to his 10 rebounds and six assists performance that shoved Tropang Giga to their 20th Finals appearance—their seventh in the Philippine Cup.
“First of all, it’s good to be back in the Finals. Ray Parks shows maturity in this conference. He really wanted to win,” said TNT Head Coach Bong Ravena, who praised Phoenix Super LPG for playing tough in the series.
“Hats off to Phoenix. They made us really good every game. Salute to them,” Ravena said.
The Tropang Giga were in full control in Game five, posting their biggest advantage at 75-58 early in the payoff period.
Simon Enciso posted 12 points, while Jayson Castro, Roger Pogoy and veteran Anthony Jay Washington finished with 11 points each for TNT.
Calvin Abueva registered 23 points, 13 rebounds and six assists for the Fuel Masters, who couldn’t get enough production from Matthew Wright, who only finished with 13 points on 5-of-19 shooting from the field because of TNT’s leech-like defense throughout the game.
TNT’s back-to-back wins ended Phoenix’s dream run after overhauling a 1-2 series deficit. The Tropang Giga closed out the series at 3-2.
The last time TNT was in the Philippine Cup finals was in 2013.