Rondae Hollis-Jefferson towed TNT to a second straight finals appearance after another sensational offensive outing.
The decorated import took over the scoring duty after taking a step back in the previous match as the Tropang Giga erased a 13-point third quarter deficit to finish off Rain or Shine, 97-92, in Game 5 of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
TNT closed the best-of-seven series, 4-1, replicating its result over the same rival in the season-opening Governors’ Cup semis on its way to the throne.
The Tropang Giga will face the survivor between Barangay Ginebra and NorthPort in another race-to-four affair in the finals unfurling on 14 March. The Kings were looking to close out their series as of press time.
Hollis-Jefferson banged in 17 of his 42 points in the fourth quarter, shooting 15-of-26 from the field, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished four assists while chipping in on the defensive end with three blocks.
“I think we stayed calm. We stayed poised. They were up a little bit. (But) we just told our guys we could come together and do this, we just have to stay calm,” the two-time Best Import winner said.
Hollis-Jefferson gave TNT its first taste of the lead since the second quarter with a jumper followed by another basket after Rey Nambatac scored a layup off a steal in the Tropang Giga’s 6-0 spurt for an 82-77 advantage with 5:28 left.
TNT kept its distance before Calvin Oftana drilled the dagger triple for a 93-86 advantage with 39.7 left. Hollis-Jefferson then swatted away Andrei Caracut’s layup attempt before giving the Tropang Giga a 10-point lead from the stripes.
“We really showed a lot of heart and guts down the stretch. Before the ballgame we talked about to make sure that we stay present and not allow our minds to wander during the ballgame. We felt that we had a little let down towards the end of the first half but we picked it up,” TNT coach Chot Reyes said.
“So many other guys pitched in. It’s a testament to the players’ refusal to go down without a fight. This series was so close that it could’ve easily gone either way. But in the end our ability to make stops when it mattered was the difference in this game.”
Nambatac and Oftana added 12 points each while RR Pogoy and Glenn Khobuntin added nine each for the Tropang Giga.
Rain or Shine held TNT scoreless for almost four minutes and went on an 8-0 tear in the third period to take a 59-46 lead with 7:16 left.
Khobuntin, who came in as a substitute for Poy Erram after hitting the back of his head on the floor following a bad landing, broke the Tropang Giga’s dry spell with a trey that sparked a telling 20-8 closing run to enter the payoff period trailing by just a solitary point, 67-66.
The opening half turned out to be a battle of runs with both teams taking seven-point advantages in a furious exchange. The Elasto Painters entered the half with a slim 46-44 lead.
Deon Thompson scored 34 points, Adrian Nocum rebounded from a four-point outing in Game 4 with 13 points while Caracut ended up with 10 for Rain or Shine.
TNT (97) — Hollis-Jefferson 42, Nambatac 12, Oftana 12, Pogoy 9, Khobuntin 9,Williams 8, Aurin 3, Erram 2, Heruela 0, Galinato 0.
RAIN OR SHINE (92) — Thompson 34, Nocum 13, Caracut 10, Tiongson 8, Santillan 7, Lemetti 6, Mamuyac 5, Norwood 5, Ildefonso 4, Clarito 0, Datu 0, Asistio.
Quarters: 28-27, 44-46, 66-67, 97-92.