By REYNALD MAGALLON
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson flirted with a triple-double as defending champion TNT took down Rain or Shine, 90-81, to draw first blood in their PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup semifinals at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
The reigning best import was all over the floor for the Tropang Giga, finishing with 26 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists on top of his five steals and four blocks that also typified his team’s huge defensive effort against the high scoring Elasto Painters.
Hollis-Jefferson had eight of TNT’s 15 fourth quarter points – none bigger than the booming four against the shot clock with 1:53 left to take a 90-79 lead with 1:53 and slam the door on Rain or Shine comeback hopes.
He got plenty of help though with RR Pogoy firing 16 points and Rey Nambatac adding 14, including 11 in the third frame where the Tropang Giga seized control of the contest behind a 36 point explosion while also limiting the Elasto Painters to just 23.
Calvin Oftana also had his share of the spotlight with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Playing its first game since Tuesday of last week, TNT did show some signs of rust after ROS took a four-point lead at the break, 43-39, but managed to come alive in the third and build a lead that went to as high as 13 in the final frame.
Meanwhile, Justin Brownlee and Stephen Holt formed a deadly one-two punch and set the tone to the masterful offensive display for Ginebra over San Miguel, 122-105, to also take Game 1.
Brownlee immediately weaved his magic in the best-of-seven series, drilling a total of five quadruples — the most by any player so far this conference — while Holt was aggressive from the get-go as the Kings ripped the game wide open in the third frame and never looked back from there.
The Ginebra resident import dropped 20 of his 33 points in the third frame to go along with his eight rebounds, five assists and a steal while Holt was equally impressive with 30 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
RJ Abarrientos also had 13 points while Scottie Thompson scattered 10 points, 10 assists and six rebounds as the well-rested Ginebra seemingly took advantage of the tired legs of SMB which was coming off a grueling five-game series against Converge in the quarters.
The Beermen simply looked a step slower in the contest which the Kings made sure to exploit on with Holt creating opportunities through his drives to the paint.
Making the game much easier for Ginebra was when it also got rhythm from deep with Abarrientos and Brownlee taking turns in detonating long bombs.
Game 2 of both series is on Friday, Oct. 11 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores :
FIRST GAME :
GINEBRA 122 – Brownlee 33, Holt 30, Abarrientos 13, Thompson 10, Ahanmisi 9, J.Aguilar 9, Pinto 9, Devance 8, Adamos 1, Cu 0.
SAN MIGUEL 105 – Anosike 27, Lassiter 18, Fajardo 16, Perez 13, Ross 7, Rosales 6, Romeo 6, Enciso 6, Cruz 4, Tautuaa 2, Nava 0, Brondial 0.
QUARTERS : 27-28, 63-58, 97-78, 122-105.
SECOND GAME:
TNT 90 – Hollis-Jefferson 26, Pogoy 16, Nambatac 14, Oftana 11, Castro 9, Aurin 6, Erram 5, Khobuntin 3, Galinato 0, Williams 0, Heruela 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 81 – Fuller 18, Mamuyac 14, Asistio 13, Nocum 7, Lemetti 7, Clarito 6, Datu 6, Norwood 5, Santillan 4, Caracut 1, Belga 0.
QUARTERS : 22-24, 39-43, 75-66, 90-81.
