Rondae Hollis-Jefferson shone as TNT dimmed Rain or Shine in Game 4 of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup semifinals on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was still gasping for air when he faced reporters at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
It was probably the only time Hollis-Jefferson could really rest after producing an all-around game in TNT's pulsating 81-79 win over Rain or Shine in Game 4 of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup semifinals.
The former Best Import carried the Tropang Giga on his shoulders, turning in a double-double outing with 23 points and 19 rebounds while also getting five assists, and the same number of steals and blocks.
[WATCH: Hollis-Jefferson logs all-around showing in TNT's Game 4 win vs RoS | PBA Highlights]
His best moment came with 37 seconds remaining in the game.
He drove to the lane, gave Elasto Painters counterpart Aaron Fuller a bump, before soaring for the emphatic flush which turned out to be the game-winner.
“I can’t dunk every play. I knew we needed a basket. Coach (Chot Reyes) has always been telling me to go up off two feet. He’s been telling all of us to gather and go up strong, so it was just having that mindset,” Hollis-Jefferson said when asked about the go-ahead dunk.
Before RHJ sealed the match, Rey Nambatac knocked down a triple on top of the key to break the 76-all deadlock against his former squad with still 1:15 left to play.
Santi Santillan, bothered by a nagging achilles injury since the elimination round, responded with a three-point play for Rain or Shine to knot the count again at 79.
Hollis-Jefferson then did his thing and helped the defending champion Tropang Giga move just a win away from making a return trip to the finals.
TNT paces the best-of-seven affair at 3-1.
But Reyes and the rest of the Tropang Giga are not looking too far ahead.
“That’s farthest from my mind right now. [My] only thought is our preparation for next game,” said Reyes.
“Rain or Shine came up with a great game plan today, but I thought my players really fought hard and buckled down. I give a lot of credit for the extra effort they put in.”
Nambatac put in a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds while Calvin Oftana was a board shy from doing the same as he also had 15 points.
Fuller also came up with a double-double effort of 22 points and 18 rebounds for the Elasto Painters. Santillan was the squad's second-best scorer at 11 points followed by Gabe Norwood and Jhonard Clarito's eight each.
Game 5 is set on Friday, Oct. 18, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, with TNT looking to wrap up the series against Rain or Shine.
“Hopefully, on Friday, we come out with that kind of hunger and edge in Game 5,” Reyes said.
The Scores:
TNT 81 – Hollis-Jefferson 23, Nambatac 15, Oftana 15, Castro 9, Erram 8, Williams 5, Pogoy 4, Aurin 2, Khobuntin 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 79 – Fuller 22, Santillan 11, Norwood 8, Clarito 8, Mamuyac 6, Nocum 6, Belga 6, Caracut 4, Lemetti 3, Asistio 3, Datu 2.
Quarterscores: 18-22, 39-39, 63-59, 81-79