Tropang Giga in semis
TNT Tropang Giga and import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson are now safely in the semifinals of the PBA Governors’ Cup.
The Tropang Giga leaned on Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s 35 points to slam the door on the NLEX Road Warriors, 125-96, in Game 4 of their quarterfinals at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
With the win, the Chot Reyes-mentored Tropang Giga advanced to the best-of-seven semifinals against the winner of the do-or-die match between Rain or Shine or Magnolia.
Hollis-Jefferson was his usual deadly self as he shot 12-of-20 from the field while adding 11 rebounds and three assists for the TNT.
Rey Nambatac and RR Pogoy contributed 19 and 18 points, respectively, for the Tropang Giga, who became the second team to reach the semifinals after Barangay Ginebra.
Calvin Oftana and Glenn Khobuntin contributed 11 points each.
Robert Bolick and import DeQuan Jones led the losing effort for the Road Warriors with 25 and 21 points, respectively.
Bolick also had seven assists and five rebounds while Jonnel Policarpio chipped in 12 points.
“In basketball, it’s about playing defense and putting the ball in the hoops. In the quarterfinals, we finally hit some shots,” said Reyes, who put one over NLEX counterpart Jong Uichico.
Reyes, however, is anticipating a tough climb in the semis.
“Whichever we play will be a much different team, and it will be a test for our flexibility and adaptability. It will be a big test for our defense,” added Reyes.
Earlier, Jabari Bird and Paul Lee led the Magnolia Chicken Timplados to a 129-100 win over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
Bird tallied 30 points and four rebounds while Lee added 25 points, including 3-of-4 from the four-point range, as the Hotshots evened their best-of-five series with the E-Painters at two wins apiece,
The scores:
First game
Magnolia (129) — Bird 30, Lee 25, Ahanmisi 14, Barroca 10, Sangalang 10, Abueva 9, Dionisio 9, Dela Rosa 9, Mendoza 8, Eriobu 5, Laput 0
Rain or Shine (100) — Fuller 22, Clarito 15, Belga 11, Nocum 11, Caracut 11, Mamuyac 10, Asistio 5, Santillan 4, Tiongson 4, Ildefonso 4, Datu 2, Lemetti 1, Norwood 0
Quarterscores: 26-26, 62-44, 99-79, 129-100.
Second game
TNT (125) — Hollis-Jefferson 35, Nambatac 19, Pogoy 18, Oftana 11, Khobuntin 11, Erram 10, Williams 5, Aurin 5, Exciminiano 4, Payawal 3, Castro 2, Heruela 2, Ebona 0, Galiinato 0, Varilla 0
NLEX (96) — Bolick 25, Jones 21, Policarpio 12, Nermal 10, Torres 9, Anthony 5, Valdez 4, Semerad 3, Herndon 2, Nieto 2, Fajardo 2, Mocon 1, Rodger 0, Miranda 0, Amer 0.
Quarterscores: 35-25, 66-46, 95-74, 125-96.