Heading, McCullough steer TNT back to PBA Finals stage, set title clash with Ginebra

ANTIPOLO — It’s going to be a rematch of last season’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals after TNT forged another showdown with Ginebra on Sunday.

A few hours after the Kings advanced by sending Rain or Shine home, the Tropang 5G followed suit by taking care of business against Meralco after pulling off a narrow 97-94 victory in Game 6 at the Ynares Center here.

(C) PBA Images

“We’re coming in as the underdogs, playing basically the Philippine national team,” said head coach Chot Reyes, whose side will be facing the crowd darlings in the Finals for the fourth time in the last eight conferences.

Jordan Heading starred in the triumph with 30 points as the lefty floor general bannered the closeout together with Chris McCullough, just like what they did to hack out the 103-95 win back in Game 5 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

The Bolts surged back from down 77-91 and tied things up at 94-all with less than two minutes as they seemingly figured out a way toward a come-from-behind win, especially after ‘C-Mac’ fouled out with 3:23 to spare.

But then, Heading came through in the clutch, converting a three-point play off a Patrick Gardner foul for the marginal buckets with 42 seconds left.

‘That means everything,” said Heading as he heads to his third straight Finals. “When you lose in the Finals, that sticks with you the whole offseason, the whole next season, the whole preseason. That’s what you’re thinking about.”

McCullough, before fouling out, had 22 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists. Calvin Oftana added 12 markers for the defending champions, who are set to play in their fifth straight Finals, hoping to secure a back-to-back and win another gold after runner-up finishes in the last two editions of the Philippine Cup.

(C) PBA Images

Gardner, on the other hand, had 32 points and 13 rebounds to lead Meralco.

Chris Newsome made 15 points, with Bong Quinto adding 14 as the troika led the rally from 14 down, which proved to be their final stand.

Cliff Hodge and Jason Brickman added 11 apiece in the loss.

The Scores:

TNT 97 – Heading 30, McCullough 22, Oftana 12, Ganuelas-Rosser 9, Pogoy 8, Williams 7, Nambatac 5, Castro 4, Khobuntin 0, Aurin 0.

Meralco 94 – Gardner 32, Newsome 15, Quinto 14, Brickman 11, Hodge 11, Mocon 5, Banchero 4, Cansino 2, Rios 0, Bates 0.

Quarterscores: 29-25, 51-44, 79-71, 97-94.