TNT booked the first ticket to the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals after finishing off the gritty Rain or Shine in Game 5 of the semis by way of a 97-92 decision, Friday evening at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Calvin Oftana struck the dagger triple to make it a 93-86 spread with 39.7 seconds left to play, before a split by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson enabled the Tropang Giga to complete the comeback after trailing by as many as 13 points.
And by completing the gentleman’s sweep, the flagship MVP franchise booked its second straight Finals trip, giving itself a chance as well to win another gold after a successful title defense in the Governors’ Cup last November.
(C) PBA Images
“We really showed a lot of heart and guts down the stretch. And we just wanted to make sure that we stay present and not allow our minds to wander during the ball game,” said head coach Chot Reyes.
Hollis-Jefferson led TNT with 42 points and 11 rebounds, along with four assists and three blocks as he powered their fourth-quarter reversal.
The two-time Best Import scored 17 in the final frame, none bigger than the go-ahead fadeaway jumper to get the lead for good, 78-77, with 6:41 to go.
Oftana finished with a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds. Rey Nambatac added 12 as well, which he laced with eight assists for the Tropa, who’s returning to the Commissioner’s Cup Finals after six years.
“I don’t think it’s any secret, we’re going to play Ginebra in the Finals,” he said. “We all know how strong and how deep that team is. It was a good preparation for us, but Ginebra is a very different team than Rain or Shine.”
(C) PBA Images
Deon Thompson, on the other hand, had 34 points to lead Rain or Shine. Adrian Nocum and Andrei Caracut backed him up with 13 and 10, respectively.
The Elasto Painters, despite hoping against hope, still managed to chop the gap to four with nine seconds left after facing a 95-86 deficit.
But then, RHJ was there for the eventual final count, and as the buzzer sounded the charges of Coach Yeng Guiao found themselves losing again to the same team that beat them in the Season 49 Governors’ Cup semis.
The Scores:
TNT 97 – Hollis-Jefferson 42, Nambatac 12, Oftana 12, Pogoy 9, Khobuntin 9,Williams 8, Aurin 3, Erram 2, Heruela 0, Galinato 0.
Rain or Shine 92 – Thompson 34, Nocum 13, Caracut 10, Tiongson 8, Santillan 7, Lemetti 6, Mamuyac 5, Norwood 5, Ildefonso 4, Clarito 0, Datu 0, Asistio.
Quarterscores: 28-27, 44-46, 66-67, 97-92.
