Ray Parks shone down the stretch and TNT forged a do-or-die match against Phoenix in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals with a 102-101 escape at the Angeles University Foundation in Pampanga on Wednesday, November 25.

Parks unloaded 17 of his game-high 36 points in the final quarter as the Tropang Giga knotted the best-of-five series at 2-2 despite squandering a huge double-digit lead.

The Fuel Masters erased a 17-point deficit and trailed by just a whisker going into the last frame but Parks, who also finished with 6 assists and 2 steals, did not want to go home just yet.

Parks erupted for 12 of their last 14 points, including the free throws that gave TNT a 100-95 lead with 4 ticks left.

A Matthew Wright triple put Phoenix within a single possession, 98-100, but Simon Enciso sealed the win for his side by calmly sinking his foul shots with a fifth of a second remaining.

“Ray told us he will play as long as he can,” Tropang Giga head coach Bong Ravena said in Filipino. “They all have a freedom to score, especially Ray. We just let him play.”

Jayson Castro delivered 21 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals in his first start of the conference for TNT, Roger Pogoy had 18 points and 3 rebounds, while Enciso put up 14 points.

Enciso sank a triple that handed the Tropang Giga their largest lead of the game at 60-43 in the third quarter before the Fuel Masters came back behind Matthew Wright, who had 34 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds.

Wright waxed hot for 14 points in a 25-9 run Phoenix used to cut the TNT lead to a single point, 68-69, with a quarter left to play.

But the Tropang Giga put the clamps on Wright throughout the final frame, with his two three-pointers in the last 5 seconds not enough for the Fuel Masters to close out the series.

Jay Washington also played a pivotal part for TNT with 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 blocks in a surprise starting role.

Jason Perkins backstopped Wright with 19 points and 5 rebounds, while Calvin Abueva had 17 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks against a whopping 8 turnovers.

The Scores

TNT 102 – Parks 36, Castro 21, Pogoy 18, Enciso 14, Washington 6, Erram 4, Montalbo 3, Rosario 0, De Leon 0, Semerad 0, Reyes 0.

Phoenix 101 -Wright 34, Perkins 19, Abueva 17, Jazul 11, Chua 10, Rios 4, Garcia 4, Heruela 2, Napoles 0, Reyes 0, Intal 0, Mallari 0.

Quarters: 21-12, 48-38, 69-68, 102-101.

– Rappler.com