TNT, save for a shaky few moments in the opening period, played without letup on Friday night to crush Barangay Ginebra, 95-89, and take Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson got going early and played relentlessly until the end of the clash at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, as the Tropang Giga drew first blood in the best-of-seven championship series that also featured their victim in the previous conference.

HIGHLIGHTS: PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals – Ginebra vs TNT Game 1

“The key for us was to get good shots. The entire objective of our offense was to get good shots, and I think that’s what you saw,” said head coach Chot Reyes.

“Hopefully, we can sustain that—as that’s the shooting we need,” he went on.

TNT Tropang Giga’s Calvin Oftana during a game against Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Game 2 is on Sunday again at the bayside venue with the Tropang Giga looking to annex a second-straight triumph, which would also be a repeat of how Reyes and his charges opened the last Governors’ Cup.

RJ Abarrientos tried to will the Gin Kings back into the game, hitting a quad-shot with five ticks left, but the resident TNT import calmly hit his freebies in the next sequence, ultimately sealing what the club could only hope would be a tone-setting win.

SCHEDULE: 2025 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals – Ginebra vs TNT

Hollis-Jefferson, who has steered the franchise to its last two crowns, finished with 34 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists.

Roger Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, and Rey Nambatac all delivered twin-digit scores in the victory.

“They played extremely hard defensively, which was a big part of the scheme. The guys executed, so I give credit to them,” said Hollis-Jefferson, who lauded his teammates for turning in a commendable stand even without franchise cornerstone Jayson Castro, who has been shut down for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury.

Justin Brownlee put up 28 points, 15 rebounds, and six assists, while Scottie Thompson chipped in a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds, his heroics nearly turning the tide for the crowd darlings.

Abarrientos added 13 more in the scoring effort.

TNT vs Ginebra Game 1 Scores:

TNT 95 – Hollis-Jefferson 34, Pogoy 15, Oftana 10, Nambatac 10, Williams 8, Khobuntin 8, Erram 5, Aurin 5, Heruela 0, Razon 0.

GINEBRA 89 – Brownlee 28, Thompson 17, Abarrientos 13, Holt 9, J.Aguilar 9, Rosario 8, Gray 3, Malonzo 2, Ahanmisi 0.

Quarterscores: 29-18, 55-39, 80-66, 95-89.