TNT closed the group stage of the PBA 49th Season Governors’ Cup with a 99-79 rout over NorthPort on Sunday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Tropang Giga finished the eliminations with an 8-2 win-loss record to officially clinch the top seed in Group A, and will face the No. 4-ranked squad in Group B, which will either be NLEX or Blackwater.
Both teams played an all-Filipino roster with TNT also deciding to sit Rondae Hollis-Jefferson out of the match to recover from a minor injury. NorthPort is already without Venky Jois for the second game due to an Achilles tear.
But the Tropang Giga were still able to reassert their strength with an all-local crew as they bounced back from a humiliating 84-72 defeat over Terrafirma last Thursday, and deal the Batang Pier their seventh loss in 10 outings.
READ: Pringle, Terrafirma finally break through at expense of league-leading TNT
“I thought we saw some positives today to be able to score better even without Rondae. Our offensive efficiency has to pick up in the playoffs,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes.
Poy Erram made 17 points and 13 rebounds, while Rey Nambatac also chipped in a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Roger Pogoy had 14 points, while Henry Galinato played his first game this conference after an MCL sprain and added 11 points and seven rebounds.
Calvin Oftana played for only seven minutes after he was brought to the hospital due to a cut in his lip after a collision with Arvin Tolentino that required immediate treatment.
Tolentino had 24 points and six rebounds, while Cade Flores had 18 points and nine rebounds as NorthPort’s conference came to a close.
NorthPort was still up, 50-46, until TNT closed the third on a 19-9 run and never looked back.
The scores:
TNT 99 – Erram 17, Nambatac 15, Pogoy 14, Galinato 11, Williams 9, Oftana 7, Castro 6, Khobuntin 5, Ebona 4, Vosotros 3, Payawal 3, Heruela 2, Varilla 2, Exciminiano 1.
NorthPort 79 – Tolentino 24, Flores 18, Onwubere 7, Jalalon 6, Yu 6, Navarro 5, Amores 4, Nelle 3, Cuntapay 2, Taha 2, Munzon 2, Tratter 0, Bulanadi 0.
Quarters: 19-25; 43-36; 65-60; 99-79.
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