MANILA – TNT Tropang Giga spoiled the jersey retirement of NLEX Road Warriors center Paul Asi Taulava with a come-from-behind 113-97 victory in the 2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
After being down by as much as 22 points, the Tropang Giga relied on the trio of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Calvin Oftana and Jewel Ponferrada to take an 80-78 lead after three quarters.
The Tropang Giga continued its run in the fourth quarter with outside conversions from Oftana, rookie Kim Aurin and Glenn Khobuntin as the lead reached its largest at 18 points.
Hollis-Jefferson finished with a double-double of 33 points and 15 rebounds to go with six assists, two steals, and two blocks as the Tropang Giga notched its third victory in six games.
Oftana chipped in 29 markers, including five three-point conversions, Ponferrada contributed 12 points, while Aurin tallied a career-high of 11 markers for the Tropang Giga.
Robbie Herndon top-scored with 25 points, with seven three-point connections, Stokley Chaffee Jr. had a double-double of 15 points and 17 rebounds, while rookie Enoch Valdez and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser finished with 14 each as NLEX dropped to 2-6.
The 50-year-old Taulava, who played for less than two minutes and grabbed a rebound, was feted by the Road Warriors at the halftime by retiring his iconic jersey number 88.
In the first game, Converge FiberXers went on a huge surge in the overtime period to defeat Terrafirma Dyip, 103-94. The FiberXers improved to 1-6 record, while the Dyip dropped to 2-5.
The FiberXers waxed hot early in the extension period with nine straight points from reinforcement Jamil Wilson, Justin Arana, JL Delos Santos, and Kevin Racal for a 99-90 lead.
The Dyip made its last push via a three-pointer from Juan Miguel Tiongson, but the FiberXers wrapped up its first win of the season with a basket by Deschon Winston and free throws by Delos Santos.
Wilson finished with a double-double of 32 points and 10 rebounds, Winston chipped in a career-high of 17 markers, six rebounds, and three steals, while Arana contributed 14 points for Converge./PN
BOX SCORE:
TNT 113 – Hollis-Jefferson 33, Oftana 29, Ponferrada 12, Aurin 11, Montalbo 7, K. Williams 7, Khobuntin 5, Cruz 3, Reyes 2, Tolomia 2, Ganuelas-Rosser 2, Tungcab 0, Heruela 0, Galinato 0.
NLEX 97 – Herndon 25, Chaffee 15, Ganuelas-Rosser 14, Valdez 14, Bolick 9, Anthony 8, Nermal 8, Nieto 2, Marcelo 2, Taulava 0, Rodger 0, Pascual 0.
Quarterscores: 17-26, 39-58, 80-78, 113-97.
