Jayson Castro delivered in the late stages in TNT’s win over Converge in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup.
When the going got tough, TNT relied on old reliables to hack out a 98-91 win over Converge in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup on Sunday, Sept. 8.
Jayson Castro and Calvin Oftana scored the biggest baskets as the Tropang Giga averted disaster and rolled to a third straight win for a share of the top spot with its 5-1 card.
After the FiberXers clawed back from 11 points down to move to within two, 91-93, on Schonny Winston’s southpaw layup with 1:29 remaining, TNT let Castro did his thing.
The two-time Asia’s Best point guard dribbled the ball down and by the time he got to the three-point line on top of the key, he unleashed the dagger to restore order.
Calvin Oftana followed that up after scoring on a putback off Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s miss with 28.3 ticks left to play for the final score.
“Magandang test para sa'min 'to para pagdating ng playoffs, dadalhin namin 'to,” said Castro after the match at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Jayson Castro finished with 14 points, five rebounds, and three assists for the Tropang Giga, who avenged their first round loss to Converge where Scotty Hopson shot the game-winning four-pointer.
Hollis-Jefferson led TNT with 21 points, seven rebounds, and 10 assists, while Rey Nambatac and Calvin Oftana fired 17 and 14 points, respectively.
While TNT was on a roll, it was quite the opposite for the FiberXers.
Justin Arana scored 16 points for Converge, which absorbed three losses in a row for a 2-4 win-loss tally.
Winston had 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Stockton and Hopson chipped in 15 and 13, respectively.
The Scores:
TNT 98 – Hollis-Jefferson 21, Nambatac 17, Oftana 14, Castro 14, Pogoy 12, Erram 5, Payawal 5, Aurin 5, Khobuntin 3, Heruela 2.
CONVERGE 91 – Arana 16, Winston 15, Stockton 15, Hopson 13, Ambohot 12, Delos Santos 8, Santos 7, Cabagnot 4, Racal 1, Nieto 0, Vigan-Fleming 0, Andrade 0.
Quarterscores: 36-18, 58-39, 78-67, 98-91