TRIUMPHANT TNT: Pogoy backs up RHJ in Tropang Giga victory

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was at it again.

TNT banked on the hot hands of its prized import for the go-ahead jumper that eventually turned out to be game-winning basket in a thrilling 98-96 escape over dangerous Converge in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup Saturday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Hollis-Jefferson shook off Cheick Diallo with a smooth crossover move before hitting a turnaround fadeaway to shatter a 96-96 deadlock with 1:07 left before the Tropang Giga made two defensive stops to secure their fourth straight win for a 4-2 win-loss record.

The two-time Best Import winner’s heroics came just four nights after rescuing TNT from Meralco by calmly sinking the game-winning two free throws in a two-point survival.

Hollis-Jefferson finished with 31 points on 11-of-24 field goal shooting, grabbed 11 rebounds with four assists, two steals and one block as TNT put the surging FiberXers’ four-game winning romp to a screeching halt.

“They are the best shooting team in the league. They are shooting with the highest percentage and our main concern was how can we defend them and stay in front of them to force them to miss shots,” Tropang Giga head coach Chot Reyes said.

TNT made a bold gamble by sending in help defense wherever needed albeit it allowed Converge to pull down 18 offensive rebounds and score 23 second-chance points.

“I thought we really did a good job at it, except because of all our helping it opened up for offensive rebounds. As you can see in the stats, they doubled their offensive rebounds, second-chance points average. That was a big problem and that was a huge gamble that we were grappling with the whole game,” Reyes said.

“Because if we don’t send help then their field goal shooting advantage is gonna take effect but if we send help then we open ourselves up for offensive rebounding.”

But in the end TNT’s choking defense held as they forced Jordan Heading to airball his shot after Hollis-Jefferson put the Tropang Giga in front.

TNT came out empty in their next possession but made Converge commit a 24-second shot clock violation with 9.5 seconds left.

“With a team like Converge, you cannot stop everything, you have to give something up. Luckily, we were able to get two crucial stops in the end game,” Reyes said of the game that saw 12 deadlocks and 18 lead changes.

RR Pogoy scored 17 of his 22 points in the second half and nailed five treys while Rey Nambatac and Calvin Oftana had 13 and 12 points, respectively, for TNT, whichshot 16-of-35 from the three-point area.

TNT started out hot, racing to an early 12-point lead before Converge stormed back to knot the count at 27 at the end of the first 12 minutes of action.

The scores:

TNT (98) — Hollis-Jefferson 31, Pogoy 22, Nambatac 13, Oftana 12, Khobuntin 8, K.Williams 4, Aurin 3, Erram 3, Castro 2, Razon 0, Exciminiano 0, Galinato 0.

CONVERGE (96) — Diallo 37, Baltazar 17, Heading 12, Winston 11, Arana 9, Stockton 7, Racal 3, Santos 0, Delos Santos 0, Andrade 0, Nieto 0, Javillonar 0.

Quarters: 27-27, 46-44, 77-79, 98-96.