TNT REVS UP PLAYOFF CHANCES

TNT Tropang 5G gained the inside track to a twice- to-beat incentive after steamrolling listless Blackwater, 113-96, in the penultimate playdate of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup elims yesterday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

- By JOHN BRYAN ULANDAY

The hot-shooting Tropa exploded for 66 points in the first half and went on cruise control to notch their second straight win and improve to 7-3. It was good for solo third place and a pretty shot at one of the last two bonuses. Reigning champion San Miguel (8-2) and Rain or Shine (8-3) have clinched the first two win-once incentives.

TNT could secure it sans any complications with a win against Magnolia tomorrow at the Big Dome. Otherwise, TNT would be dragged to a logjam with multiple hopefuls at 7-4 to trigger a tiebreaker via quotient system.

"We talked about it after the results of the previous games so we knew that we had to win our last two games. Eight wins will get us the twice-to-beat so to do that, we needed to win this game first," said Reyes.