Rondae Hollis-Jefferson leads TNT to a win over Converge FiberXers in the PBA Commissioners’ Cup. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
TNT muzzled Converge down the stretch on Saturday night to take a pulsating 98-96 victory in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Import Rondae Hollis Jefferson hit a tough, turnaround jumper with 1:08 left as the Tropang Giga kept it together the rest of the way to capture a fourth-straight win that hiked their record to 4-2.
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“With a team like Converge, you cannot stop everything. You have to give something up. Luckily we were able to make those two crucial stops in the end,” said head coach Chot Reyes shortly after the clash at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila.
Roger Pogoy sizzled in the second half, pouring 17 of his 22 points to preserve a game-tying triple by Calvin Oftana and Hollis-Jefferson’s go-ahead basket.
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TNT Tropang Giga’ Roger Pogoy during a PBA Commissioner’s Cup game against Converge FiberXers. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Rey Nambatac had 13 points, Oftana 12 while Hollis-Jefferson led with 31 and 11 rebounds.
Converge had a chance to tie the game anew and even take the lead, but the FiberXers botched those chances with a shot clock gaffe in the next sequence. The young squad also failed to send a TNT player to the charity stripe to manufacture one more chance to steal the game.
“They’re the best shooting team in the league, shooting the highest percentage. So that was our concern—defend them and force them to miss shots … I thought we did a really good job with it,” Reyes said of the FiberXers, whose winning streak ended at five games.
Import Cheick Diallo had 37 points and 15 rebounds, rookie Justine Baltazar had another fine game with 17 and six, as Jordan Heading and Schonny Winston delivered at least 11 points each in the losing stand that gave the untested telco club to 6-4.
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
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Quarterscores : 27-27, 46-44, 77-79, 98-96.
