By REYNALD MAGALLON
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and TNT finally finished off Rain or Shine, 113-95, to get back into the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup Finals in Game 5 of their semis affair at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Friday, Oct. 18.
Displaying the sense of urgency, the Tropang Giga were quick to assert their might in the first half and never looked back from there en route to booking their return to the familiar territory where they last reigned two years ago when the conference was last staged.
The star of that championship run, Hollis-Jefferson, remained the focal point of the attack in the series-clinching win against the Elasto Painters, scattering 36 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists and six steals.
More than his offensive brilliance, it was TNT’s defense that proved to be the difference in the contest, clamping down on Rain or Shine which was limited to just 14 points in the second frame while the Tropang Giga had 28.
At the break, TNT erected a massive 56-39 lead – an advantage that was never threatened the rest of the way as the Tropang Giga even led by as many as 27 points, 72-45, at one instance in the second half.
RR Pogoy provided support to RHJ with 19 points built on three triples while Kim Aurin added 12 and Calvin Oftana with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Meanwhile, rookie RJ Abarrientos embraced the fireman’s role as he spearheaded Barangay Ginebra to its own display of unstoppable offense with a 121-92 victory over San Miguel to move on the verge of Finals return.
Abarrientos provided the tip of the spear to the Kings’ attack with a career-best scoring of 28 points – 16 of which came in the second half when he gave his team the much-needed lift to keep it afloat in the face of the Beermen’s fightback.
Scottie Thompson was equally impressive with 22 points, eight rebounds, and five assists as Ginebra did not need another huge scoring night from Justin Brownlee to take a commanding 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven affair.
After exploding for 49 in a losing effort in Game 4, Brownlee happily became the facilitator to his team with 18 points, nine rebounds and seven assists while Japeth Aguilar and Maverick Ahanmisi added 15 and 13.
