MANILA, Philippines – It was an evening of nice basketball on the Ninoy Aquino Stadium as TNT and Phoenix cast a pair of single-digit escapes towards their respective foes Converge and Rain or Shine within the continuation of the 2025 PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Saturday, January 11.
The contending Tropang Giga leaned on the same old heroics of tremendous import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and native star Calvin Oftana as they edged the feisty FiberXers, 98-96, for his or her fourth straight win following a 0-2 begin to the convention.
Hollis-Jefferson flexed his NBA pedigree anew with a grand line of 31 factors, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block in a full 48-minute run, whereas Oftana made his touches throughout 37 minutes rely with 12 factors, 5 boards, and three dimes.
The previous NCAA MVP was sitting on simply 9 factors up till the two:45 mark of the 4th quarter when he drilled a tying three, 96-all, to finish a brief but essential 5-0 rally from down 96-91 with 4:14 to play.
Hollis-Jefferson then put the ending touches with a brief, go-ahead jumper with 67 ticks left to push the run to 7-0 and take a 98-96 lead that Converge failed to vary in its favor, no due to a vital shot clock violation with simply 9 seconds left.
RR Pogoy led the native forged with 22 factors on 5-of-9 capturing from three, whereas Rey Nambatac added 13 factors, 3 rebounds, and three assists in slightly below 23 minutes of motion.
Former NBA participant Cheick Diallo, in the meantime, paced the shedding trigger with game-highs of 37 factors and 15 boards as Converge snapped a four-game win streak to skid down a 5-3 card.
High rookie decide Justine Baltazar tallied 17 factors with 6 rebounds as Jordan Heading and Schonny Winston scored 12 and 11, respectively.
Within the second recreation of the double-header, Phoenix surprised Rain or Shine, 93-91, due to a clutch putback shot by Kenneth Tuffin with 0.7 seconds left to assist snap the Elasto Painters’ five-game profitable streak.
The Fil-Kiwi prospect stood out the brightest regardless of being solely the sixth-highest scorer on the Gasoline Masters with 8 factors as 5 others churned out double figures led by 22 from import Donovan Smith.
Tyler Tio backstopped the balanced effort with 16 factors, whereas RR Garcia chipped in a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double. Fellow veterans Jason Perkins and RJ Jazul tallied 12 and 11 factors, respectively, as Phoenix rose to a 3-5 file in joint ninth with Magnolia and NLEX.
Import Deon Thompson led the heartbreaking loss with a game-high-tying 22 factors, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals, whereas Santi Santillan added 19 factors. Adrian Nocum scored 16 as Rain or Shine remained in second place with a 5-2 slate.
The Scores
First Recreation
TNT 98 – Hollis-Jefferson 31, Pogoy 22, Nambatac 13, Oftana 12, Khobuntin 8, Ok.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.
Quarters: 27-27, 46-44, 77-79, 98-96.
Second Recreation
Phoenix 93 – Smith 22, Tio 16, Garcia 14, Perkins 12, Jazul 11, Ballungay 8, Tuffin 8, Daves 2, Verano 0, Muyang 0, Alejandro 0, Camacho 0, Ular 0.
Rain or Shine 91 – Thompson 22, Santillan 19, Nocum 16, Clarito 11, Caracut 8, Datu 7, Belga 5, Demusis 3, Malonzo 0, Asistio 0, Ildefonso 0, Norwood 0.
Quarters: 17-18, 50-46, 70-71, 93-91.
– Rappler.com
