ANTIPOLO - TNT closed in on a sweep in the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup quarterfinals after another blowout win over Magnolia, 91-73, on Wednesday at the Ynares Center.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson put together another dominant performance on both ends with 39 points, 15 rebounds, two steals, and three blocks, helping TNT grab a 2-0 series lead in their best-of-five playoff.
Following the loss, Magnolia is now staring at another early ouster despite being one of the top-seeded teams in the quarterfinals.
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TNT can sweep the series on Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Tropang 5G hardly missed a beat, especially on defense, as in their 92-70 Game One win last Friday. In contrast, the Hotshots shot just 34 percent from the field on Wednesday after going 38 percent in the series opener.
“We want to make sure to have a better effort, better defense, better concentration, better communication than in Game One,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes.
Hollis-Jefferson erupted for 11 points in the third quarter on 3-of-3 shooting from threes after a 49-32 TNT second-quarter lead, the biggest at that point of the match, was reduced to 51-49 by a Magnolia run.
TNT regained full control and eventually led by as many as 24 points, 84-60, late in the game.
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and RR Pogoy were the only other double-digit scorers for TNT with 11 and 10 respectively, but it hardly mattered with Hollis-Jefferson carrying much of the load.
KJ Buffen had 24 points and 13 rebounds, and Zavier Lucero had 16 points and nine rebounds, but Jerom Lastimosa was inefficient on offense again with 13 points on 4-of-12 from the field.
The scores:
TNT 91 – Hollis-Jefferson 39, Ganuelas-Rosser 11, Pogoy 10, Galinato 8, Oftana 6, Heading 5, Nambatac 5, Erram 3, Khobuntin 2, Jalalon 2, Castro 0, Quitevis 0, Ferrer 0, Aurin 0.
Magnolia 73 – Buffen 24, Lucero 16, Lastimosa 13, Barroca 6, Sangalang 6, Alfaro 4, Andrada 3, Koon 1, Gomez de Liano 0, Gomez 0, Dela Rosa 0, Verano 0, Laput 0.
Quarters: 31-22; 51-42; 73-58; 91-73.
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