TNT buried the key shots in the end game to outlast NorthPort, 101-95, on Tuesday in the PBA 49th Season Governors’ Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and four steals in an all-around effort in his first game back in the PBA.
Calvin Oftana nailed a three off an assist from Hollis-Jefferson with 2:43 left in the game, one of the key plays in TNT’s 12-2 stretch after the match was tied at 85-85 during the five-minute mark of the fourth.
With the win, TNT joined Meralco for the early lead in Group A following wins to start the conference.
The Tropang Giga also staved off the scoring explosion of Batang Pier import Taylor Johns where he also scored two free throws that push the game in a deadlock for the last time at 85.
With TNT up, 99-91, the four-point shot came to play once again in the final moments with Arvin Tolentino cutting the deficit to half with 24.6 seconds left.
NorthPort forced a turnover on the next possession, but couldn’t take advantage as TNT played excellent defense to prevent the Batang Pier from tying the game with another four-pointer.
“The difference was just in certain stretches, we were able to string together successive stops and scores,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes. “I think that was the key. Gave us a little buffer.”
“We knew they would always come back. We’ve always have problems with this team. In fact, we haven’t beaten this team in a long time. The last two games, I can remember, we lost to NorthPort. We knew they would always come back, they have a strong line-up, good import, great players, well-coached,” he added.
Calvin Oftana had 15 points, and became the first PBA player to make multiple four-pointers, going for a perfect 2-of-2 though he shot 1-of-7 from threes.
Rey Nambatac had 13 points, five rebounds, and four assists in his first game with TNT, while Glenn Khobuntin supplied 12 points and four rebounds for TNT, which was actually shorthanded after missing RR Pogoy, Kelly Williams, and Paul Varilla due to injuries.
Johns flirted with a triple double and added 36 points, 16 rebounds, and nine assists for the Batang Pier. Tolentino scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds, and went 1-of-3 from fours.
The scores:
TNT 101 – Hollis-Jefferson 32, Oftana 15, Nambatac 13, Khobuntin 12, Heruela 9, Erram 8, Castro 7, Exciminiano 3, Aurin 2, Ebona 0, Vosotros 0, Payawal 0.
NorthPort 95 – Johns 36, Tolentino 23, Cuntapay 8, Munzon 7, Jalalon 6, Bulanadi 6, Navarro 4, Nelle 3, Flores 2, Tratter 0, Yu 0, Amores 0.
Quarters: 22-23; 50-48; 76-69; 101-95.
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