TNT breaks free from an earlier logjam at the top spot in Group A as it now sets the pace at 3-1 following a victory over Magnolia in the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup on Thursday, Aug. 29.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson delivered the finishing blows as TNT hammered out a thrilling 88-82 win over Magnolia in the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup on Thursday, Aug. 29.
Coming off a sorry loss to Converge, the Tropang Giga roared back to claim the solo lead in Group A with a 3-1 card.
Hollis-Jefferson atoned for his miscues in the endgame of their previous setback, scoring five points to put away the hard-fighting Hotshots this time.
He finished with 32 points, 19 rebounds and seven assists.
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Down two with still 3:26 remaining in the game, Hollis-Jefferson unloaded a triple to regain a slim lead for TNT at 81-80.
Jayson Castro took advantage of the confusion in defense and scored on a left-handed layup, before Poy Erram uncorked his own trey to hike the advantage to 86-80 with under two minutes to go.
Two crucial stops from Erram and Hollis-Jefferson followed, with the latter sealing the win with a breakaway dunk with 31.7 ticks left on the clock.
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Rey Nambatac had 15 points and five rebounds for the Tropang Giga, while RR Pogoy and Brian Heruela added 12 and 10 points, respectively.
“I’m just relieved we won. It was a tough one to the end,” said Hollis-Jefferson.
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Glen Robinson III paced Magnolia with 19 points and 15 rebounds.
Zavier Lucero chipped in 14 points and six boards, while Paul Lee and Mark Barroca combined for 25 markers for the Hotshots, who dropped to 1-2.
The Scores:
TNT 88 – Hollis-Jefferson 32, Nambatac 15, Pogoy 12, Heruela 10, Erram 6, Castro 4, Oftana 3, Khobuntin 3, Aurin 3, Varilla 0, Exciminiano 0, Ebona 0.
MAGNOLIA 82 – Robinson III 19, Lucero 14, Lee 13, Barroca 12, Sangalang 11, Abueva 7, Dela Rosa 6, Ahanmisi 0, Dionisio 0, Alfaro 0, Escoto 0, Laput 0.
Quarterscores: 29-22, 50-49, 72-66, 88-82