CALVIN Oftana sizzled with six three-pointers and a total of 32 points and TNT weathered a late Barangay Ginebra charge to stretch its run to six games and seize league leadership in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig Friday.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was also instrumental with 25 points, including a perfect 13-of-13 shooting from the foul line, as the Tropang Giga repulsed the Gin Kings, 91-86, and shook up the leaderboard, sending Ginebra down to seventh place at 6-4.
As they roared to a sixth straight win following a 0-2 conference start, the Tropang Giga took pole position, jumping past the NorthPort Batang Pier (7-3), the Hong Kong Eastern dribblers (7-3) and the Converge FiberXers (7-3).
But it remains a wild, wild race for the Top Two and the twice-to-beat bonuses in the quarterfinals, with the Meralco Bolts and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters also knocking at the door both at 6-3.
"In a lot way of ways, Ginebra just had many weapons so we just had to do pick our potion. We had a 10-point lead and it nearly wasn't enough. We knew they would come back," said TNT coach Chot Reyes.
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"It's definitely our best defensive game. Ginebra is the best defensive team in the league and No. 1 in field goals. They're a double-edged sword. We just had to pick one. Luckily, we won in those tradeoffs," Reyes added.
The Tropang Giga did dish out a fine job - actually on both ends of the floor - interestingly with former TNT hotshot Mikey Williams watching on the sideline.
Oftana showcased a Williams stuff, rifling in bombs from afar before himself settling the outcome of the game with a pair of charities with 6.4 seconds to go.
Poy Erram chipped in 10 while Jayson Castro added nine for the Tropang Giga who pulled one against the Gin Kings in their first match since TNT beat Ginebra in their Governors Cup title clash last November.
Ginebra lost the battle with coach Tim Cone rotation only eight players.
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Justin Brownlee, Stephen Holt and Troy Rosario paced their team with 20, 18 and 16 points, respectively. (SB)
TNT 91 - Oftana 32, Hollis-Jefferson 25, Erram 10, Castro 9, Pogoy 6, Razon 3, Aurin 3, Khobuntin 3, Galinato 0, K. Williams 0, Heruela 0.
Ginebra 86 - Brownlee 20, Holt 18, Rosario 16, Thompson 9, Abarrientos 8, J.Aguilar 7, Malonzo 6, Ahanmisi 2.
Quarterscores: 22-25, 45-46, 68-64, 91-86
