The TNT Tropang Giga spoiled the comeback attempt of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters for an early lead in the PBA Governors’ Cup Season 49 semifinals.
The Chot Reyes-coached team held off the Painters, 90-81, in Game 1 of their seven-game series at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
“I just told the guys at halftime to relax. I thought the game was already going our way. We were down by four, but the pace was in our favor. All I said was we have them where we want them, so we just got them in the second half,” Reyes said on their efforts that limited the Painters to only scoring 38 points in the second half.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was stellar for the reigning champions and flirted with a triple-double, putting up a 26-point, 13-rebound game together with nine assists, five steals and four blocks.
RR Pogoy, Rey Nambatac and Calvin Oftana also joined the Tropang Giga party by scoring 16, 14, and 11, respectively, while Poy Erram and Henry Galinato manned their front line by limiting Painters import Aaron Fuller to only 18 points on 7/19 shooting from the field.
Trailing 43-39 at halftime, TNT put the clamps on the Painters in the second half, while also pouring in 36 markers in the third period.
This eventually allowed them to lead by 13, 80-67, later on, but Yeng Guiao’s men wouldn’t give in just yet.
A Keith Datu trey and Jhonard Clarito deuce made it possible for Rain or Shine to get to within seven, 86-79, with still three minutes left in the game and give themselves a chance to close in further on their counterparts.
However, Felix Lemetti, Fuller and Clarito fired blanks on their next possessions, while Hollis-Jefferson delivered the dagger for TNT with only 40 ticks left in the contest by hitting a shot from four-point country.
Aside from his scoring production, Fuller had 21 rebounds but with five turnovers, while Gian Mamuyac and Anton Asistio had 14 and 13, respectively.
Game 2 of the series will be on Friday, 5:00 p.m., at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. (ABS-CBN News)