ANTIPOLO – TNT took care of business and finished off Rain or Shine, 113-95, to formalize its return to the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals, Friday night.
Refusing to give their foes room to get going, the Tropang Giga began the second chapter with a 12-0 run for a 40-25 lead, then finished the period up by 17 to break the game open and eventually wrap up the semis series in five.
“It was a 12-to-nothing run. That means we played some great defense in that stretch,” offered head coach Chot Reyes, who’s back in the Finals after three years or since the 2021 Philippine Cup which they went on to rule.
“There’s no secret to our game, we really hang our hats on our ability to stop the other team, so when we make stops, we give ourselves a lot of opportunities.”
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson starred for the defending champions anew with 36 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists, and six steals, submitting another do-it-all showing that wowed that 10,000-plus fans at the Ynares Center here.
Roger Pogoy supplied 19 points on an efficient 7-of-12 shooting from the field, including a perfect 3-for-3 clip from three-point distance.
Kim Aurin made 12 points, all from deep,while Calvin Oftna added 10 markers and nine boards for the Tropa, who led by as many as 27, 72-45.
TNT has earned some needed respite following the victory as they await their Finals foes, which could either be Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel.
The Kings lead the series, 3-2, following their 121-92 earlier. The crowd darlings could finish it off in Game 6 on Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, which if they do would set up a rematch of the 2023 Governors’ Cup Finals.
“We’re ready,” Hollis-Jefferson said of the Finals. “All we can do for tonight is enjoy ourselves. We got a win and we’re going to the Finals, but that’s not the end for us. We want to be champions at the end of the day.”
“So, we know what we got to do. Take this rest and lock in, see who wins the other series, and start that process,” the reigning Best Import added.
Aaron Fuller, on the other hand, had 14 points to lead the Elasto Painters, who finished the conference in third place, per PBA stats chief Fidel Mangonon III.
As tough as the loss was, it was still a slight improvement for the team of Coach Yeng Guiao after being swept by SMB in the 2024 Philippine Cup semis.
“We had a good run. I’m totally at peace with the accomplishment we had this conference. We’ve been in the semis twice in a row, so at least that’s an indication of some degree of consistency,” said Guiao.
The Scores:
TNT 113 – Hollis-Jefferson 36, Pogoy 19, Aurin 12, Oftana 10, Nambatac 8, Khobuntin 8, Williams 8, Erram 8, Galinato 4, Heruela 0, Payawal 0, Varilla 0, Eboña 0.
Rain or Shine 95 – Fuller 14, Nocum 13, Mamuyac 11, Datu 11, Caracut 11, Santillan 10, Norwood 8, Ildefonso 5, Belga 5, Escandor 3, Lemetti 2, Clarito 2, Villegas 0, Asistio 0.
Quarterscores: 28-25, 56-39, 90-70, 113-95.
