TNT kept its hot streak going on Wednesday, overcoming NLEX, 94-87, for its fifth straight win in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 23 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists, and three blocks as the Tropang Giga moved up to 5-2 - good for second place based on winning percentage to put themselves in contention for one of the top two places in the quarterfinals.
NLEX slipped to 10th place after a fifth successive srtback, joining Magnolia at 3-6.
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TNT picked up the win ahead of its grudge match with Barangay Ginebra on Friday at the Philsports Arena. The Tropang Giga beat the Gin Kings in the finals of the season-opening Governors' Cup.
RR Pogoy added 18 points while Calvin Oftana chipped in 14 points and combined for four threes in the contest.
TNT coach Chot Reyes didn't expect a blowout game even though NLEX is at the bottom half of the team standings.
"We had no illusions that this would be an easy game," Reyes said.
"We knew this was going to be a hard game because NLEX is really basically fighting for survival so we anticipated it."
Mike Watkins had 33 points, 20 rebounds, and four blocks, while Kevin Alas added 16 points, but Robert Bolick only scored four points on 2-for-5 from the field as he played through an illness.
"We had to do the job on Kevin Alas because historically, Kevin has always played a career game against TNT. And that's exactly what happened.
"Without Bolick, it was Alas who was really carrying the team so we weren't surprised at how hard it is. I give credit to the coaching staff of Coach Jong that they came up with a very good defensive game plan, took away a lot of the things that we wanted to do and we shot very poorly in this ball game, below 40 percent," Reyes added.
TNT outscored NLEX, 31-20, in the fourth quarter after trailing by four, 67-63, at the end of the third.
The scores:
TNT 94 - Hollis-Jefferson 23, Pogoy 18, Oftana 14, Aurin 8, Erram 8, Castro 6, Razon 6, Nambatac 5, Galinato 2, Williams 2, Khobuntin 2, Heruela 0.
NLEX 87 - Watkins 33, Alas 16, Torres 7, Policarpio 6, Mocon 6, Herndon 6, Bolick 4, Valdez 4, Rodger 3, Ramirez 2, Fajardo 0, Nieto 0.
Quarters: 24-19, 39-39; 63-67; 94-87.
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