MANILA, Philippines – TNT once again proved why it’s the superior Manny Pangilinan-backed franchise in the PBA, blasting sister team NLEX straight to elimination, 125-96, to wrap up its 2024 Governors’ Cup quarterfinals run in Game 4 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Tuesday, October 1.
Super import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was his usual dominant self in the ouster, tallying a double-double of 35 points and 11 rebounds on 12-of-20 shooting, albeit with a subpar 10-of-18 free throw clip.
Newly-acquired guard Rey Nambatac had one of his best games so far since being dealt to TNT, backstopping Hollis-Jefferson with 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting, while back court partner Roger Pogoy had a near-perfect game of 18 points on a 6-of-7 clip with a game-high +31 plus-minus.
“It’s about playing defense, certainly, but it’s also about putting the ball in the hoop. We’re finally hitting some shots. We took a good hard look at film at our misses,” said TNT head coach Chot Reyes.
“As long as we take good shots, the more chances of us winning. That really goes a long way towards you helping win the ball game. But we don’t want to take away the focus on our defense. That’s still our starting point.”
All guns blazing straight from tip-off, TNT quickly erected a double-digit lead with 1:14 left in the opening frame, 33-23, off a Hollis-Jefferson mid-range shot, before ending the frame still up 10, 35-25.
NLEX had an early chance to stop the bleeding, but its fortune went exactly the other way as Hollis-Jefferson spurred what turned out to already be a game-sealing 11-0 start to the second period, capped off with another one of his mid-range swishers for the 21-point gap, 46-25, with 8:01 left.
TNT stayed hovering around that 20-point lead range for essentially the rest of the game despite NLEX star Robert Bolick’s best efforts, peaking at 29 after a last-second Ping Exciminiano four-pointer to set the final score.
Bolick went down swinging in the conference-ending loss with 25 points — all coming in the first three quarters — on 7-of-14 shooting plus 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block, while import DeQuan Jones had a quiet 21-point line with only 3 boards on top of 5 turnovers.
TNT now awaits the winner of the Rain or Shine-Magnolia quarterfinals series, after the latter forced a do-or-die Game 5 on the back of a 129-100 demolition in the first game of the double-header.
The Scores
TNT 125 – Hollis-Jefferson 35, Nambatac 19, Pogoy 18, Oftana 11, Khobuntin 11, Erram 10, Williams 5, Aurin 5, Exciminiano 4, Payawal 3, Castro 2, Heruela 2, Ebona 0, Galiinato 0, Varilla 0.
NLEX 96 – Bolick 25, Jones 21, Policarpio 12, Nermal 10, Torres 9, Anthony 5, Valdez 4, Semerad 3, Herndon 2, Nieto 2, Fajardo 2, Mocon 1, Rodger 0, Miranda 0, Amer 0.
Quarters : 35-25, 66-46, 95-74, 125-96.
– Rappler.com
