RONDAE Hollis-Jefferson buried a fade away shot, and made a key stop in the end game as TNT extended its winning streak with four with a 98-96 win over Converge on Saturday in the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Hollis-Jefferson hit the marginal shot with 1:07 left to hit the go-ahead basket for the Tropang Giga, while also making key defensive plays in the final moments to tow his squad to the win.
Converge came up empty in two crucial plays including a stop by Hollis-Jefferson, who swiped the ball away from Cheick Diallo with nine seconds to play, snapping the FiberXers’ four-game winning run.
READ: Kelly Williams comes back just in time for TNT's tough stretch
Prior to Hollis-Jefferson's effort on defense, TNT forced Jordan Heading to a tough three-pointer as the shotclock expired.
“Luckily, we were able to make that two crucial stops in the end game,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes.
On its way to the win, TNT also overhauled a five-point deficit in the last four minutes with Calvin Oftana draining a three to tie the game at 96 before Hollis-Jefferson’s heroics.
Hollis-Jefferson had 31 points and 11 rebounds in the TNT victory, while Roger Pogoy had 22 points on 5-for-9 shooting from threes.
Reyes was glad to come out with the win against a deep Converge team with their extra effort in closing their opponent’s shots.
“They are the best shooting team in the league. They are shooting the highest percentage. Our main concern was how to defend them and stay in front of them to force them to miss shots,” said Reyes.
“I thought we did a really good job of it except because of all our helping, it opened up for offensive rebounds. And as you can see in the stats, they doubled their offensive rebounds and second-chance points average,” said Reyes.
“That was the big problem. That was a huge gamble that we were grappling with the whole game because if we don’t sent help, their field goal shooting percentage is going to take effect. But if we sent help, we open ourselves up to their offensive rebounding,” Reyes added.
Rey Nambatac had 13 points, three rebounds, and three assists, while Oftana had 12 points but made one of the biggest shots in the end game.
Diallo had 37 points and 15 rebounds, while Justine Baltazar added 17 markers for Converge, but TNT limited Alec Stockton, one of the team’s high-scoring guards to seven points.
The scores:
TNT 98 – Hollis-Jefferson 31, Pogoy 22, Nambatac 13, Oftana 12, Khobuntin 8, Williams 4, Aurin 3, Erram 3, Castro 2, Razon 0, Exciminiano 0, Galinato 0.
Converge 96 – Diallos 37, Baltazar 17, Heading 12, Winston 11, Arana 9, Stockton 7, Racal 3, Santos 0, Delos Santos 0, Andrade 0, Nieto 0, Javillonar 0.
Quarters: 27-27; 46-44; 77-79; 98-96.
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