TNT regained a share of the group lead in the PBA 49th Season Governors’ Cup after dispatching sorry Terrafirma, 107-89, on Thursday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Calvin Oftana didn’t see action for TNT, but the Tropang Giga still had more than enough to go on a 10-0 run midway through the final quarter that kept Terrafirma at bay.
The Tropang Giga improved to 4-1 at the close of the first half of their elimination-round campaign to tie sister Meralco at the top while sending the Dyip to a 0-5 win-loss slate.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 26 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, and two blocks, while Poy Erram and RR Pogoy had 13 points apiece. Kim Aurin added 13 points as six TNT players scored in double digits.
TNT coach Chot Reyes said the Tropang Giga didn’t have enough quality practices in the lead-up to the Terrafirma game with their injuries to players like Hollis-Jefferson, who has been dealing with a sprained ankle.
“We hardly had any practice because Rondae couldn’t run on his ankle until two days ago. We didn’t have Calvin as well. I was really worried because we didn’t get good practices until yesterday,” said Reyes.
"I said that we just have to rely on our ability to make stops and defend."
It was still anybody’s ball game until midway into the fourth when TNT was up by five, 85-80. Glenn Khobutin started the pivotal run with a three followed by a jumper and two free throws by Hollis-Jefferson, with Aurin capping the stretch with a three.
Antonio Hester finished with 23 points and 18 rebounds, while Christian Standhardinger had 18 points and 14 rebounds for Terrafirma, which lost starting guard Juami Tiongson to a partial hamstring tear.
The scores:
TNT 107 – Hollis-Jefferson 26, Erram 14, Pogoy 14, Aurin 13, Nambatac 10, Castro 10, Exciminiano 7, Khobuntin 7, Payawal 3, Heruela 3, Vosotros 0, Ebona 0.
Terrafirma 89 – Hester 23, Standhardinger 18, Ferrer 13, Hernandez 13, Pringle 12, Cahilig 3, Hanapi 3, Ramos 2, Sangalang 2, Grospe 0, Olivario 0.
Quarters: 30-22; 55-49; 76-68; 107-89.
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