TNT still hold of Group A lead thru RHJ’s impeccable effort
TNT solidified their hold as the top team in Group A of the PBA 49th Season Governors’ Cup after defeating Magnolia in the second round of eliminations with an 84-82 decision on Tuesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led the Tropang Giga with his monstrous performance. He produced 29 points alongside his career-high 25 rebounds.
It was a bounce-back game for RHJ as he missed a double-double performance for the first time in his PBA career. In their last game against Meralco he still produced 22 points and nine assists, one shy away of his usual double-figures in either boards or dimes.
Hollis-Jefferson said he came to the game prepared and made an effort to step-up as TNT was shorthanded in personnel as Rey Nambatac and Kim Aurin were out due to injuries.
“That comes down to effort,” said Rondae.
“Seeing a lot of guys, I played against dudes like Kenneth Faried, he is the name the stands out, Jared Sullinger, those dudes are resilient on the glass. And it just came from effort, wanting to get the rebounds. Knowing that a lot of shots would be taken, with that comes a lot of misses, trying to secure the rebound, that’s just my goal.”
The Season 48 Governors’ Cup best import also showed his defensive prowess as he registered four blocks in his name and helped the Tropang Giga their fifth straight victory. The biggest was the block against Zav Lucero with 2:27 left in the fourth period.
“I’m tired but that’s part of giving your all, being resilient, leaving it on the court, wanting to win, having that will. You might be tired, and need to take a play-off. But we really need a basket or we really need a stop,” said RHJ.
“That one block, I was gassed but we needed that block. All that (fatigue) goes behind you when you are in the moment. Now I can go eat and go to sleep now,” he added.
The game was a tight duel as neither team got a double digit lead. TNT’s largest lead was the 82-75 count off Hollis-Jefferson’s four straight points, while the biggest gap that Magnolia produced was at 51-44.
RR Pogoy and Calvin Oftana churned out 19 and 10 points, respectively to back-up their hard-working import.
Magnolia still managed to have a toe-to-toe match against their rival even though they lost Mark Barroca with more than three minutes remaining in the game as he suffered a nose injury when Kelly Williams elbows inadvertently hit him.
Barroca produced 10 points, eight rebounds, six assists and one steal against two turnovers before the freak accident happened.
Shabazz Muhammad produced good numbers in his second game with the Hotshots but not enough to bring them to victory. The Magnolia import had 30 points and 17 rebounds.
Paul Lee, Jerrick Ahanmisi and Zavier Lucero added 13, 12 and 10 markers, respectively.
The scores:
TNT 84 – Hollis-Jefferson 29, Pogoy 19, Oftana 10, Castro 9, Williams 9, Khobuntin 4, Heruela 3, 1, Exciminiano 0, Vosotros 0, Varilla 0.
Magnolia 82 – Muhammad 30, Lee 13, Ahanmisi 12, Barroca 10, Lucero 10, Dela Rosa 2, Abueva 2, Laput 2, Dionisio 1, Mendoza 0, Sangalang 0.
Quarters: 18-19; 40-36; 60-64; 84-82.
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The Hawks responded in the third canto with a 26–18 run to trim the deficit to just six, 79–73.
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But before the Playoffs begin, four remaining spots are still up for grabs through the Play-In Tournament.
In the Western Conference, the No. 9 seed Sacramento Kings will take on the No. 10 seed Dallas Mavericks, while the No. 7 seed Golden State Warriors will battle the No. 8 seed Memphis Grizzlies.
The winner of the 9-vs-10 matchup will then face the loser of the 7-vs-8 game for the right to claim the No. 8 seed in the Playoffs, earning a showdown with the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder.
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(9) Chicago Bulls vs. (10) Miami Heat
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