ANTIPOLO – TNT made sure that nothing would be decided in the final seconds as it dealt NLEX a 109-91 romping to move one win away from the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup semifinals, Sunday evening at the Ynares Center here.
No longer wanting to figure in another tight affair like the last time out in which they lost, the Tropang Giga used little time to seize control before breaking away for good in the second chapter for the 2-1 lead in their best-of-5 quarters tiff.
The defending conference champions could finish it off in Game 4 on Tuesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Game time is set at 7:30 p.m.
“For any team in this league to win by a big margin, it has to be a combination of good defense with good offense. Finally tonight, we were able to get both together,” offered TNT head coach Chot Reyes.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson showed the way for the Tropa with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists, and added a steal and a block each for a full line.
Calvin Oftana, thrust into the starting lineup again as the coaches eased his return to his usual spot due to a busted lip, delivered his best scoring performance of the series thus far with 18 points and five rebounds.
Rey Nambatac supplied 17 points, 12 of which he made in the first half as he and RHJ led their strong start toward a 61-40 advantage entering the break.
Glenn Khobuntin scored 17 as well, earning Player of the Game honors as he proved to be the spark off the bench with a perfect 5-for-5 clip from three. The bruising two-way specialist also collared six rebounds.
Veteran center Kelly Williams chipped in 11 points and five rebounds as a total of five players finished in double-figures in the dominant rout.
Leading NLEX, on the other hand, was Robbie Herndon with 17 points as the TNT defense limited import DeQuan Jones to just 16 and 10 — that, after finishing with 38 points in the first two games of the series.
Main man Robert Bolick had 12 points, four rebounds, and 10 assists, while rookie forward Jonnel Policarpio added 11 markers in the loss, which saw the Road Warriors trail by as many as 26 points during the fourth.
The Scores:
TNT 109 – Hollis-Jefferson 27, Oftana 18, Khobuntin 17, Nambatac 17, Williams 11, Pogoy 8, Castro 6, Erram 4, Aurin 1, Heruela 0, Payawal 0, Ebona 0, Galinato 0.
NLEX 91 – Herndon 17, Jones 16, Bolick 12, Policarpio 11, Anthony 9, Valdez 6, Torres 6, Mocon 4, Semerad 3, Rodger 3, Nieti 2, Amer 2, Nermal 1, Miranda 0.
Quarterscores: 32-21, 61-40, 89-68, 109-91.
