TNT rode its luck in escaping Rain or Shine, 93-91,to take a 2-0 lead in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals Friday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
The Tropang Giga lost Rondae Hollis-Jefferson due to foul trouble then Jayson Castro to an apparent knee injury inside the game’s final 5:36 that caused their offense to stagnate, but the crew had defense to lean on to save themselves.
(C) PBA Images
“It’s just our ability to go to our strength, which is our defense, without Rondae and without Jayson, our two closers,” said head coach Chot Reyes.
The Elasto Painters chopped what was once a 93-80 deficit to just a field goal with 2:35 remaining behind an 11-0 run. But even the team couldn’t complete the comeback as they, too, struggled to find the bottom of the net.
RoS did get the final play after forcing Roger Pogoy to a five-second inbound violation, but Adrian Nocum missed the potential game-tying jumper.
“With both of them out, it was incumbent upon our defense to hold the fort,” said Reyes. “They really did a good job, they defended Roger very well, they defended Calvin very well, forcing us to miss easy shots and layups.”
“But in the end, even if we missed, at least we were not giving up fastbreak points, which is the strength of Rain or Shine,” he added.
Despite fouling out, RHJ still top-scored for TNT with 28 points, alongside 10 rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and two blocks.
Castro before going down had 13 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Poy Erram had 11 points while Pogoy and Kim Aurin had 10 apiece.
TNT will shoot for the 3-0 lead in Game 3 on Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum but without a doubt, the entire team is more concerned with their veteran floor general after getting hurt at the 3:07-mark of the fourth.
He appeared to have twisted his right knee as he drove to the hoop, and was eventually stretchered out of the venue on the way to the hospital.
“Very concerning from my standpoint. Noong tinignan ko ‘yung replay, very concerning, not only for this series, but for Jayson’s wellbeing long term, his physical fitness, his health,” said Reyes.
Deon Thompson, meanwhile, had 22 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists to lead Rain or Shine, who actually held the Tropa scoreless in the final 6:22 of the match but couldn’t pull through in the last play to at least force overtime.
Nocum finished with 19 points. Gian Mamuyac made 11 points in his second game back from a hand injury, while Caelan Tiongson added 10 markers.
The Scores:
TNT 93 – Hollis-Jefferson 28, Castro 13, Erram 11, Pogoy 10, Aurin 10, Williams 8, Oftana 7, Nambatac 3, Khobuntin 3.
Rain or Shine 91 – Thompson 22, Nocum 19, Mamuyac 11, Tiongson 10, Clarito 9, Caracut 7, Datu 7, Santillan 6, Asistio 0, Belga 0.
Quarterscores: 24-24, 54-44, 81-75, 93-91.
#WATCH: “IT’S JUST OUR ABILITY TO GO TO OUR STRENGTH”
Chot Reyes expresses relief as TNT survives Rain or Shine’s late push in Game 2 of the #PBA2025 Commissioner’s Cup semifinals 🏀
📹 @justinebacnis/ Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/UmwTZKnT2C
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) February 28, 2025
