Tremendous import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson retains up his stellar play with loaded TNT, main a 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals blowout elimination of Robert Bolick-led NLEX
MANILA, Philippines – TNT as soon as once more proved why it’s the superior Manny Pangilinan-backed franchise within the PBA, blasting sister crew NLEX straight to elimination, 125-96, to wrap up its 2024 Governors’ Cup quarterfinals run in Sport 4 on the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Tuesday, October 1.
Tremendous import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was his standard dominant self within the ouster, tallying a double-double of 35 factors and 11 rebounds on 12-of-20 taking pictures, albeit with a subpar 10-of-18 free throw clip.
Newly-acquired guard Rey Nambatac had certainly one of his greatest video games up to now since being dealt to TNT, backstopping Hollis-Jefferson with 19 factors on 7-of-12 taking pictures, whereas again court docket accomplice Roger Pogoy had a near-perfect sport of 18 factors on a 6-of-7 clip with a game-high +31 plus-minus.
“It’s about enjoying protection, actually, but it surely’s additionally about placing the ball within the hoop. We’re lastly hitting some pictures. We took a great arduous take a look at movie at our misses,” mentioned TNT head coach Chot Reyes.
“So long as we take good pictures, the extra probabilities of us profitable. That basically goes a great distance in the direction of you serving to win the ball sport. However we don’t need to take away the deal with our protection. That’s nonetheless our place to begin.”
All weapons blazing straight from tip-off, TNT rapidly erected a double-digit lead with 1:14 left within the opening body, 33-23, off a Hollis-Jefferson mid-range shot, earlier than ending the body nonetheless up 10, 35-25.
NLEX had an early probability to cease the bleeding, however its fortune went precisely the opposite approach as Hollis-Jefferson spurred what turned out to already be a game-sealing 11-0 begin to the second interval, capped off with one other certainly one of his mid-range swishers for the 21-point hole, 46-25, with 8:01 left.
TNT stayed hovering round that 20-point lead vary for basically the remainder of the sport regardless of NLEX star Robert Bolick’s greatest efforts, peaking at 29 after a last-second Ping Exciminiano four-pointer to set the ultimate rating.
Bolick went down swinging within the conference-ending loss with 25 factors — all coming within the first three quarters — on 7-of-14 taking pictures plus 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block, whereas import DeQuan Jones had a quiet 21-point line with solely 3 boards on high of 5 turnovers.
TNT now awaits the winner of the Rain or Shine-Magnolia quarterfinals sequence, after the latter pressured a do-or-die Sport 5 on the again of a 129-100 demolition within the first sport of the double-header.
The Scores
TNT 125 – Hollis-Jefferson 35, Nambatac 19, Pogoy 18, Oftana 11, Khobuntin 11, Erram 10, Williams 5, Aurin 5, Exciminiano 4, Payawal 3, Castro 2, Heruela 2, Ebona 0, Galiinato 0, Varilla 0.
NLEX 96 – Bolick 25, Jones 21, Policarpio 12, Nermal 10, Torres 9, Anthony 5, Valdez 4, Semerad 3, Herndon 2, Nieto 2, Fajardo 2, Mocon 1, Rodger 0, Miranda 0, Amer 0.
Quarters : 35-25, 66-46, 95-74, 125-96.
– Rappler.com
