Games tomorrow:

(Ynares Center-Antipolo)

5:15 p.m. — Meralco vs Blackwater

7:30 p.m. — Phoenix vs Rain or Shine

It wasn’t pretty but undermanned defending champion TNT got the job done.

The Tropang 5G averted disaster after weathering guest team Macau’s late-game scare in a 106-103 escape to begin their title-retention bid in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Governors’ Cup on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Obviously, you can’t be satisfied with an ending like that,” TNT head coach Chot Reyes said.

The Tropang 5G were already cruising in a 15-point cushion, 104-89, with three minutes left when the Giant Panda’s went on a 12-0 tear to close the gap to just three with 25.3 seconds left following a couple of free throws by De’Vondre Perry.

An RR Pogoy split from the line gave TNT a 105-101 advantage with 16 seconds remaining. Damian Chongqui gave Macau a chance for a comeback after hitting two free throws off back-to-back splits from the stripes.

Rey Nambatac drained one of his two foul shots on the Tropang 5G’s possession to secure the victory despite playing injured veterans Jayson Castro (knee), Calvin Oftana (calf), Poy Erram (knee) and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser (sprained ankle) while Kelly Williams was out to attend to a family matter in the US.

“But at the same time, we knew we were going to struggle. No. 1, we’re lacking players. We’ve got three starters who are not playing and No. 2, this is our first tune-up game. We didn’t even have a chance to get a tune-up in the offseason. Because we opted to rest, recover,” said Reyes, whose squad was coming off a grueling seven-game Commissioner’s Cup finals series against eventual champion Barangay Ginebra.

Nambatac led the way with 23 points on 8-of-15 field goal shooting and added six assists, three rebounds, one steal and one block for TNT.

“I was lost at the last conference. I told myself that I have to redeem myself and show my real game. Thank God, slowly I’m getting back to my usual game,” Nambatac said.

Pogoy scored 21 points and Glenn Khobuntin finished with 11 points and seven boards for the Tropang 5G.

TNT import Darius Days, who is taking the spot on a temporary role with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson still recovering from an injury, submitted 23 points in his debut.

“So, this is the first time we played with our import, with Darius Days, in an actual game. So, as you can see there’s a lot to work on. The game that we played tonight, that cannot match with the teams that we have on our group,” Reyes stressed.

“We’re a work in progress.”

Macau suffered a fourth straight defeat in as many outings.

Perry had 36 points and 10 rebounds while Chongqui had 24 points and eight assists in a losing effort.