The TNT Tropang Giga moved closer to the championship series in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup.

TNT edged the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 81-79, in Game 4 of the best-of-seven semifinals on Wednesday, October 16, at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

They now have a pivotal 3-1 lead in the series.

Tied at 79-apiece after Santi Santillan’s completion of his and-one, prolific import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson carved his way to the basket to break the deadlock, dunking over his counterpart Aaron Fuller with 47 seconds left in regulation.

Andrei Caracut and Gian Mamuyac got their chances to tie or take the lead, but they missed their respective chances as time went down in TNT’s favor.

Hollis-Jefferson was then fouled after securing a defensive stop against Jhonard Clarito with 1.1 ticks left, virtually sealing the win for the TNT side.

“It was a grind and we just kept reminding the players to stick with it. We knew it was going to be a grind, actually,” said coach Chot Reyes during the postgame press conference.

The TNT reinforcement showed his two-way game, collecting a total of 23 points, 19 rebounds, five assists, five steals, and five blocks.

Coach Yeng Guiao’s former wards Rey Nambatac and Calvin Oftana contributed 15 points each for the Reyes-coached squad.

Meanwhile, pacing the Elasto Painters was Fuller, who posted a 22-18 stat line, while Santillan had 11 points. (ABS-CBN News)