TNT survived a furious fourth quarter rally by Meralco to pull off a 101-99 escape for a third straight win in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup Tuesday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson sank the game-winning two freethrows with 10 seconds left before the Tropang Giga averted disaster when Bolts forward Cliff Hodge missed his three-point attempt as time expired.
TNT, which squandered a 23-point lead in the first half, improved to a 3-2 win-loss record.
“First of all, we expected it. We had no illusions that it’s gonna be an easy game. When we were up by 20, we knew that Meralco had the capability to come back,” Tropang Giga head coach Chot Reyes said.
“And we were besieged by our foul trouble. That’s why when they made that run, Rondae and Poy Erram were on the bench.”
Hollis-Jefferson managed to stay in the game despite getting whistled for his fifth foul in the second quarter to finish with 24 points, 13 rebounds five assists, two steals and two blocks.
Calvin Oftana also had 24 points on 9-of-15 field goal shooting while Rey Nambatac and Erram added 15 and 12 markers, respectively, for TNT.
The Tropang Giga went up, 44-21, in the second quarter and looked poised to take the game in a rout.
Meralco outscored TNT, 33-27, in the third period and unleashed a telling 18-4 run in the fourth to take the lead, 90-89, after a bankshot floater by Bong Quinto with 4:10 left.
Both teams traded baskets with Bolts guard Chris Banchero tying it at 99 with just a minute left.
Meralco import Akil Mitchell had a chance to retake the lead but missed his hook shot over Hollis-Jefferson. He then committed a costly foul when he tried to poke the ball away from the TNT reinforcement.
The Bolts slid to a 4-3 mark.
Mitchell got 24 points and 18 rebounds while Chris Newsome added 19 points and eight assists. Banchero scored 14 and Quinto had 12.
The scores:
TNT (101) --- Hollis-Jefferson 24, Oftana 24, Nambatac 15, Pogoy 12, Castro 7, Erram 6, Galinato 5, Aurin 5, Khobuntin 3, Razon 0, Varilla 0
MERALCO (99) –-- Mitchell 24, Newsome 19, Banchero 14, Quinto 12, Black 8, Hodge 6, Rios 5, Bates 4, Almazan 4, Cansino 3, Caram 0
Quarters: 27-17, 52-35, 79-68, 101-99