TNT sinks NorthPort, nails quarters slot

Games Sunday: (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

5 p.m. — NLEX vs Phoenix

7:30 p.m. — Barangay Ginebra vs Magnolia

TNT cruised to a fifth straight win after blowing out eliminated NorthPort, 94-70, to draw closer to a quarterfinals seat in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

A 32-point second quarter explosion set the tone for the rout that saw the Tropang 5G create a 31-point separation on their way to improving to a 5-3 win-loss record.

Newly signed guard Almond Vosotros made the most of his second chance to get back in 5-on-5 basketball action as the 3x3 standout finished with 12 points on 4-of-7 field goal shooting.

“Actually, he was supposed to go on vacation in Japan with his family. He already bought plane tickets and booked their hotel. But he gave that up. He canceled that to have this opportunity,” TNT head coach Chot Reyes said.

“This is really a big sacrifice for him and we’re very thankful. We knew that we would need him here because we’ve lost Jielo Razon due to appendicitis, and he underwent surgery last week.”

Calvin Oftana finished with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, RR Pogoy had 13 points while Kelly Williams had 11 points and 12 boards. Simon Enciso scored 11 while JP Erram posted 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Tropang 5G.

It was all over but the shouting when Glenn Khobuntin hit a triple for an 86-55 TNT advantage with 6:05 left in the game.

The Batang Pier’s seventh straight loss in eight starts came on the same day the Seoul SK Knights announced the signing of Arvin Tolentino as import for the next season of the Korean Basketball League.

The development ended weeks of speculation on the Commissioner’s Cup Best Player of the Conference status since news of Tolentino entertaining offers to play overseas came out. The SK Knights, coming off a runner-up finish to Carl Tamayo-led Changwon LG Sakers, announced Tolentino’s acquisition on their social media account.

Tolentino only played two games in the all-Filipino conference after sustaining a right hip flexor injury.

Joshua Munzon was the lone NorthPort player in double figures with 20 points.

Jerrick Balanza, who was traded by Magnolia along with Calvin Abueva and a future second round pick for Will Navarro last Tuesday, had nine points. Abueva skipped the game.