TNT boosted its bid for a quarterfinal berth by dispatching Terrafirma, 116-92, on Wednesday in the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Tropang 5G forged a tie with Converge for third place in Group A with a 5-4 win-loss record, stretching their lead over the Dyip (3-5) to two games.
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The four top teams in each of the two groups will advance to the quarterfinals.
TNT got a win in Nick Hornsby's PBA debut and the first games of both Calvin Oftana and Jayson Castro in the season-ending conference.
Oftana began the conference with 31 points to lead his team in scoring after recovering from multiple injuries, while Hornsby had 26 markers in his first game since he took over the spot of Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson.
Castro only had two points but provided quality minutes in his first game since he got injured in Game 6 of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
TNT also held Juami Tiongson scoreless after he led Terrafirma to w win against the Tropang 5G, 111-106.
“Finally medyo nakakabalik na ‘yung some of our key players - Calvin and Jayson specifically… But I thought Nick also played a great game for us. But laking bagay talaga kapag wala si Calvin. (We have) an extra scorer,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes.
“But I think I thought the key was our defense specifically on Juami. Siya ‘yung pumatay sa amin in our last game. So we really prepared a game plan for him,” Reyes added.
Maverick Ahanmisi had 27 points and Justin Strings had 25, but they could not make up for Tiongson’s struggles.
The scores:
TNT 116 – Oftana 31, Hornsby 26, Heading 14, Galinato 13, Nambatac 11, Pogoy 10, Khobuntin 4, Ambohot 3, Castro 2, Jalalon 2, Celzo 0, Quitevis 0, Varilla 0, Enciso 0, Hill 0.
Terrafirma 92 – Ahanmisi 27, Strings 25, Paraiso 11, Catapusan 5, Bravo 5, Chiu 4, Zaldivar 3, Adamos 3, Miller 2, Garcia 2, Tiongson 0, Mariano 0, Umali 0, Hanapi 0.
Quarters; 27-22; 57-42; 79-62; 116-92.
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