Calvin Oftana of TNT Tropang Giga looks to score. Photo by Ernie Sarmiento
It’s Talk N Text
FIRST blood to TNT Tropang Giga.
Led by the trio of Jayson Castro, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Calvin Oftana, the Tropang Giga pulled off an inspiring 88-84 win over Rain or Shine in Game 1 of their PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals duel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Castro, Hollis-Jefferson and Oftana combined for 69 points as theTropang Giga asserted their mastery over the Elasto Painters.
Castro finished with 24 points, highlighted by 6-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc, four steals, three assists and two rebounds in 22 minutes of action for coach Chot Reyes.
Hollis-Jefferson added a double-double performance with 23 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and four blocks while Oftana contributed 22 points on 6-of-8 clip in three-point territory on top of four rebounds and three assists.
Deon Thompson led the losing effort of the E-Painters with 29 points on 12-of-23 shooting, and 16 rebounds in 43 minutes of play for coach Yeng Guiao.
Adrian Nocum added 18 points and 11 rebounds while Keith Datu chipped in nine points and four rebounds.
Meanwhile, Arvin Tolentino lauded his Northport teammates in making him the strong bet to win the Best Player of the Conference award of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Tolentino said his success is the success of the team, and that can’t be possible without the collective effort of the entire Batang Pier.
Entering the semifinals where Northport emerged as the No. 1 seeded team, the 29-year-old forward totaled 39.9 statistical points for a strong second behind San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo (42.0sps) in the race for the BPC plum.
The scores:
TNT (88) — Castro 24, Hollis-Jefferson 23, Oftana 22, Pogoy 9, Nambatac 4, Aurin 2, Erram 2, Williams 2, Khobuntin 0, Heruela 0, Galinato 0.
Rain or Shine (84) — Thompson 29, Nocum 18, Datu 9, Santillan 6, Clarito 6, Mamuyac 4, Caracut 3, Tiongson 3, Lemetti 3, Asistio 3, Norwood 0
Quarterscores: 22-28, 51-47, 74-70, 88-84.
Games Friday;
(Philsports Arena)
5 p.m. — NorthPort vs. Barangay Ginebra
. 7:30 p.m. — Rain or Shine vs. TNT
AUTHOR PROFILE
Game 1 to Kings
