By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Calvin Oftana waxed hot offensively as the TNT Tropang Giga pulled off a 101-99 escape over the Meralco Bolts in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Tuesday night, January 7.

The Negrense three-point gunner finished with 24 points, with 17 coming in the first half, as the Tropang Giga secured their third consecutive victory to improve to a 3-2 win-loss record.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson also ended with 24 points, including two go-ahead free throws with 10 seconds left, while Rey Nambatac and Roger Pogoy had 15 and 12, respectively, for TNT.

After seeing their early 23-point advantage turned to a 99-all score on a conversion by Bolts’ Chris Banchero, Hollis-Jefferson surged the Tropang Giga ahead at 101-99 with two free throws.

The Bolts still had a chance to snatch the win, but Chris Newsome was bothered by the defense of Tropang Giga’s Pogoy, forcing Clifford Hodge to attempt a wayward three-pointer.

“First of all, we expected [the Bolts to come back]. We do not have illusions of that. It will be an easy game, even when we are up by 23. We know that Meralco has the capability to come back,” TNT head coach Vincent “Chot” Reyes said after the game.

“We were besieged by our foul trouble. That is why, when they made their run, Rondae and Poy [Erram] were on the bench, but the key to their run was our turnovers that allowed their offense to get on track,” he added.

Akil Mitchell tallied 24 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists.

Newsome added 19 markers, while Chris Banchero and Kier John Quinto had 14 and 12, respectively, as the Bolts dropped to a 4-3 mark./ASC, WDJ