WITH its top local gunner taken out by injury, TNT knew import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson couldn't do it all by himself against Meralco Friday.
The likes of Mikey Williams, Calvin Oftana and Jayson Castro were only too glad to pick up the slack and help the Tropang Giga stretch their winning streak with a 110-104 victory over the Bolts in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Hollis-Jefferson still led the way with 34 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists but Williams' 25 points, Oftana's 19 and Castro's 16 were big factors for TNT as it bucked the loss of Roger Pogoy-and his 22.6 ppg average-right in the first half.
Coming off a 40-point game the last time out, Pogoy was limited to just four points before suffering a left foot injury he got after stepping on Chris Banchero's foot late in the first quarter. He got re-inserted briefly in the following quarter before the team decided to sideline him for good.
Still, that proved to be a minor concern for TNT as it racked up its fifth straight win and seventh in eight games overall after its fourth match in nine days.
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The Tropa could even be rewarded with the loftiest spot in the standings should co-leader San Miguel Beer gets beaten by Barangay Ginebra later in the evening.
"I still have enough forces left on my bench and Mikey was a big help, taking that scoring load off Roger, that was huge," said coach Jojo Lastimosa.
"These guys know how to grind it out. Before the game I told them we're coming off back-to-back games and it's going to be a struggle for them. But thankfully the guys were ready," added Lastimosa.
KJ McDaniels had 26 points and 15 rebounds while Aaron Black chipped in 21 and Chris Newsome 20 for Meralco, which made it interesting by fighting back from a 62-84 deficit and pulling within six points twice inside the final minute.
But charities by Hollis-Jefferson and Castro kept the Bolts at bay and ultimately dropped them to a second straight loss and an even 3-3 card in all.
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The game started slipping from Meralco's hands right in the second quarter after it got outscored by TNT, 17-29, to fall behind by 56-42 at the half, after Hollis-Jefferson duplicated his 11-point production in the opening period.
Mikey Williams then took over in the third where he scattered 10 of his points and Oftana helping out with eight of his own. (NC)
The Scores:
TNT 111 - Hollis-Jefferson 34, M.Williams 25, Oftana 19, Castro 16, Khobuntin 6, Pogoy 4, Montalbo 4, K.Williams 3, Varilla 0, Chua 0.
MERALCO 104 - McDaniels 26, Black 21, Newsome 20, Banchero 11, Maliksi 11, Hodge 6, Quinto 4, Caram 2, Almazan 2, Pascual 1, Jose 0.
QUARTERS: 27-25, 56-42, 86-69, 111-104.
