Fortunately for Chot Reyes and Co., the TNT Tropang Giga managed to get past the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup.
TNT veteran Jayson Castro called import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for a high screen.
But before Hollis-Jefferson could even set it up, Castro threw a bullet pass to Calvin Oftana in the left corner.
It turned out, that was only a ploy to draw out NLEX’s hefty import Mike Watkins in the shaded area so Oftana could easily drive on the baseline against rookie Jonel Policarpio.
Oftana swished the basket plus the bonus free throw for an 11-point lead and the Tropang Giga went on to beat the Road Warriors, 94-87, in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
The Gilas Pilipinas stalwart would sink a triple three minutes later for insurance as TNT prevailed in its last five games for a 5-2 mark in the mid-season tournament.
Oftana finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a steal.
It was Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, though, who emerged as the Player of the Game after finishing with 23 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists, a steal and three blocks.
It did not come easy for RHJ, though, who went 7-for-25 from the field.
The same can be said for the entire TNT, but coach Chot Reyes expected struggles against the drowning Road Warriors.
Fortunately for the Tropang Giga, NLEX was also having a bad day from the stripe, with Kevin Alas uncharacteristically botching five of his eight free throws.
“We had no illusion that this would be an easy game. We knew this was going to be a hard game because NLEX is fighting for survival,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes.
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Watkins finished with 33 points, 20 rebounds, two assists and four blocks but his Herculean efforts went for naught.
Alas added 16 points for the Road Warriors, whose could not free themselves from their misery as they absorbed their fifth consecutive defeat.
NLEX now holds a 3-6 record.
The Scores:
TNT 94 – Hollis-Jefferson 23, Pogoy 18, Oftana 14, Erram 8, Aurin 8, Castro 6, Razon 6, Nambatac 5, Galinato 2, K.Williams 2, Khobuntin 2, Heruela 0.
NLEX 87 – Watkins 33, Alas 16, Torres 7, Policarpio 6, Mocon 6, Herndon 6, Bolick 4, Valdez 4, Rodger 3, Ramirez 2, Fajardo 0, Nieto 0.
Quarterscores: 24-19, 39-39, 67-63, 94-87