MANILA – TNT Tropang Giga rode on the dominant showing of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for a 96-84 victory over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in Game 2 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The former NBA forward finished with 37 points, including six outside conversions, to go with 13 rebounds and seven assists as the Tropang Giga took a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven title series.
“I was blessed, I gotta give credit to the God. To be able to compete at a high level and sustain it for a long time, it also comes with the work ethic,” Hollis-Jefferson said in a post-game interview.
Calvin Oftana contributed a double-double of 13 points and 14 rebounds, while Glenn Khobuntin chipped in 13 markers as the Tropang Giga moved closer to retaining their championship.
Holding to a slim 72-71 lead after three quarters, the Tropang Giga started to pull away in the fourth quarter with back-to-back three-point conversions from Jayson Castro and Roger Pogoy.
Conversions from Hollis-Jefferson allowed the Tropang Giga to widen the advantage to 81-73, before the Gin Kings managed to cut the deficit to 77-83 on split free throws by Japeth Aguilar, Rhon Jhay Abarrientos, and Earl Scottie Thompson.
The Tropang Giga, however, responded with baskets from Hollis-Jefferson and Castro for an 88-79 edge. The Gin Kings made their last push at 84-91, but a three-pointer by Khobuntin sealed the win for TNT.
Justin Brownlee led the Gin Kings with 19 points and nine rebounds, Thompson added 18 markers and nine rebounds, while Stephen Holt and Aguilar ended with 11 markers apiece./PN
BOX SCORE:
TNT 96 – Hollis-Jefferson 37, Oftana 13, Khobuntin 13, Castro 9, Pogoy 9, Nambatac 6, Erram 4, Williams 3, Aurin 2.
GINEBRA 84 – Brownlee 19, Thompson 18, Holt 11, J.Aguilar 11, Abarrientos 7, Ahanmisi 7, Cu 7, Pinto 4.
Quarterscores: 19-23, 49-41, 72-71, 96-84.