TNT went on a huge third-quarter tear to whip Rain or Shine, 108-91, and take a 2-0 lead in their PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals.
Calvin Oftana and Rey Nambatac stood at the forefront of that sizzling offensive run when the Tropang Giga outscored the Elasto Painters, 38-21.
That was enough for TNT to stretch a slim a three-point lead to 85-65 heading to the fourth quarter on the way to the Game 2 win.
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“We can’t take our foot off the pedal,” said coach Chot Reyes in the post-game presser at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday. “It’s nice to be up 2-0, but it takes four [wins] to get to the next stage.”
Oftana scored 13 of his 18 points during that game-changing stretch and Nambatac 11 of his 17 as the two players dealt their former coach Yeng Guiao and the Elasto Painters a second straight loss in the best-of-seven semis.
Game 3 is set on Sunday in Dasmarinas, Cavite.
Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led TNT with 23 points and eight rebounds. Oftana had a career high-tying 14 boards to complete a double-double.
Jhonard Clarito paced Rain or Shine with 18 points and import Aaron Fuller was the only other player in double figures for the team with 13.
Fuller, who leads all imports in rebounding for the tournament, was held to just six after crashing the boards for 21 during the series opener.
The scores:
TNT (108) - Hollis-Jefferson 23, Oftana 18, Nambatac 17, Aurin 11, Pogoy 8, Galinato 8, Erram 6, Khobuntin 6, Castro 5, Heruela 5, Payawal 1, Ebona 0, Varilla 0, Exciminiano 0
Rain or Shine (91) - Clarito 18, Fuller 13, Caracut 9, Lemetti 9, Belga 9, Norwood 9, Datu 8, Santillan 5, Nocum 3, Villegas 3, Mamuyac 3, Asistio 2, Ildefonso 0.
Quarterscores: 17-21; 47-44; 85-65; 108-91.
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