TNT withstood a late-game comeback by Barangay Ginebra, 91-86, to remain as the hottest team in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup with a fiery six-game winning streak, Friday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Calvin Oftana starred with 32 points, none bigger than the free throws he calmly sank for the eventual scoreline with 6.4 seconds left to play as it doused cold water to the Kings’ furious rally powered by Justin Brownlee.
The three-time Best Import pulled the crowd darlings to within just three, 89-86, from an 87-75 deficit with 4:16 remaining but he could only do so much as his Gilas Pilipinas teammate couldn’t be denied in delivering in the clutch.
Misses by JB, Stephen Holt, and RJ Abarrientos from the outside then sealed the triumph for Tropang Giga, who improved to 6-3 to not only stay on top of the conference standings but to move closer to the quarterfinals as well.
“In a lot way of ways, Ginebra just had many weapons so we just had to do pick our poison,” offered head coach Chot Reyes. “We had a 10-point lead and it nearly wasn’t enough. We knew they would come back.
“It’s definitely our best defensive game. Ginebra is the best defensive team in the league and No. 1 in field goals. They’re a double-edged sword. We just had to pick one. Luckily, we won in those tradeoffs,” he added.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was instrumental as well in the triumph, going a perfect 13-for-13 from the free throw line for 25 points, which he laced with 13 rebounds, six assists, two steals, and a block as he played all 48 minutes,
Poy Erram chipped in 10 markers and six boards as he and RHJ both overcame foul trouble after the two got called for five fouls each.
And altogether, the Tropang Giga once again beat the same team it ousted and defeated in the last two Governors’ Cup Finals, interestingly with their former star gunner in Mikey Williams at courtside as a spectator.
“Kinamusta ko lang siya,” said Oftana, who turned in a Mikey-esque shooting in front of his ex-teammate with a 6-of-7 clip from three. “Okay naman siya sa amin. Okay naman siya. Parang fit pa nga siya ngayon eh.”
TNT is set to face the eliminated Terrafirma (0-11) next on January 22, Wednesday, 5:00 p.m. at the Ynares Center in Antipolo as Reyes and his charges head into their last four games of the elimination round.
Brownlee, on the other hand, led Ginebra with 20 points on a 5-of-21 clip from the floor, 16 rebounds, and five assists against six of their 13 turnovers.
Holt finished with 18 points and seven rebounds while Rosario added 16 for the Kings, who dropped to no. 7 in the standings after falling to a 6-4 record.
With two games remaining in its eliminations campaign, the Barangay will look to bounce back first when it takes on Rain or Shine also on the 22nd before turning its attention to Meralco on the 29th in another rivalry affair.
The Scores:
TNT 91 – Oftana 32, Hollis-Jefferson 25, Erram 10, Castro 9, Pogoy 6, Razon 3, Aurin 3, Khobuntin 3, Galinato 0, K.Williams 0, Heruela 0.
Ginebra 86 – Brownlee 20, Holt 18, Rosario 16, Thompson 9, Abarrientos 8, J.Aguilar 7, Malonzo 6, Ahanmisi 2.
Quarterscores: 22-25, 45-46, 68-64, 91-86.
