By REYNALD MAGALLON
TNT got a rude welcome from home team Chiba Jets, absorbing a 93-75 defeat to open its East Asia Super League Season 2 campaign at the Funabashi Arena on Wednesday, Oct. 11.
The Tropang Giga leaned on imports Quincy Miller and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson but still found no answer to the Jets’ huge third quarter flurry that enabled them to seize control of the contest until the final buzzer.
DJ Stephen and Akatsuki Five’s former naturalized player Ira Brown led the way for the Jets with 19 apiece as the Japanese outplayed the Filipinos in the pivotal third frame, 26-12.
Brown also had 12 rebounds to his name while Stephen wound up with four triples along with nine rebounds.
TNT actually held its ground against Chiba, even taking 41-35 lead before the home team found its groove late to take a 45-44 advantage at the half.
The Jets then kept it going in the second half, also getting ample contribution from Ren Kanechika who fired six triple to finish with 18.
Miller paced the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup champions with 22 points while Hollis-Jefferson had 15 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
Glenn Khobuntin, who was the team’s top scorer during the PBA on Tour top scored the locals with 15 while Jayson Castro added 12 for the Tropang Giga who were still without some of their key players in Mikey Williams, RR Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, Poy Erram and rookie Henry Galinato and new acquisition Jewel Ponferada.
