MANILA – TNT Tropang Giga-Philippines suffered a 93-75 beating from Chiba Jets of Japan to open their 2023-24 East Asia Super League campaign on Wednesday night at the Funabashi Arena in Japan.
The Tropang Giga actually managed to keep in step with the Jets as they were just down 44-45 midway in the third quarter until the Japanese team unleashed a huge run to establish a 71-56 lead.
Ira Brown, who previously played for the San Miguel Beermen in the PBA, top-scored for the Jets with double-double 19 points and 12 rebounds, while DJ Stephens drilled four triples to end up with 19 markers as well.
Ren Kanechika contributed six of Chiba’s 16 triples en route to an 18-point game, Sota Okura added 12 points while Justyn Mutts produced nine points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two blocks.
Quincy Miller led the way for the Tropang Giga with 22 points and six rebounds while Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who is fresh off a stint with Jordan during the 19th Asian Games, finished with 15 points.
Glenn Khobuntin also made his presence felt for the Tropang Giga with 15 points, including three outside conversions, while Jayson Castro chipped in 12 points off the bench.
“We simply ran out of gas. We kind of expected it,” said Tropang Giga head coach Jojo Lastimosa after the loss.
The Tropang Giga, the defending PBA Governors’ Cup champions, were shorthanded heading into the game with Bacolodnon center Justin Chua and John Paul Erram nursing injuries.
Calvin Oftana, meanwhile, was given a break by TNT for his Gilas Pilipinas participation in the Asiad, while Roger Pogoy and Mikey Williams were also out of the game due to personal reasons.
The Tropang Giga will aim for a bounce back when it hosts the same team on November 1 in Santa Rosa, Laguna./PN
BOX SCORE:
CHIBA 93 – Stephens 19, Brown 19, Kanechika 18, Okura 12, Mutts 9, Nishimura 6, Ogawa 6, Togashi 2, Arao 2, Kaishu 0, Sekiya 0.
TNT 75 – Miller 22, Hollis-Jefferson 15, Khobuntin 15, Castro 12, Montalbo 4, Heruela 4, Reyes 3, Williams 0, Flores 0, Ganuelas-Rosser 0.
Quarterscores: 21-22, 45-44, 71-56, 93-75.
