Games today:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4:30 p.m. — Terrafirma vs Phoenix
6:45 p.m. — Converge vs NLEX
TNT Tropang Giga bucked the absence of Roger Pogoy as the rest of the crew bannered by import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Mikey Williams stepped up to pull off a masterful 111-104 victory over Meralco in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Playing in just his second game, Hollis-Jefferson was impressive, posting 34 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in 42 minutes of action while Williams chipped in 25 points and five rebounds to lift the Tropang Giga to their seventh win in eight matches.
Also helping carry the offensive load were Calvin Oftana and Jayson Williams, who finished with 19 and 16 markers, respectively.
Their efforts were a welcome sight after Pogoy, who erupted for 40 points in their previous game against Blackwater, crashed with an ankle injury after stepping on the foot of his defender, Chris Banchero.
He was forced to call for a timeout before falling down and stepping out of the court with 6:15 left in the second period.
Pogoy had to be taken to the hospital as the pain grade has been measured between 8 to 10.
Still, the rest of the Tropang Giga were able to get the job done and appeared to look good heading into their next big game on Sunday against powerhouse San Miguel Beer, which defeated them in the finals of the Philippine Cup last year.
After Sunday’s match, both squads will leave to represent the PBA in the East Asia Super League Champion’s Week from 1 to 5 March. They will return to finish the remainder of the Governors’ Cup on 15 March.
For the Tropang Giga, whether they are playing with previous reinforcement Jalen Hudson or new import Hollis-Jefferson or missing key players on the roster, the next-man-up mentality has always been in effect.
Unable to play the previous game because of a knee injury, Castro returned and came out productive as ever while Williams has benefitted from the entry of Hollis-Jefferson who flirted with a triple-double for the second consecutive time.
TNT coach Jojo Lastimosa said their victory is a good morale-booster heading into their blockbuster battle against the Beermen.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Lastimosa said.
“It’s really a big challenge as San Miguel is playing really, really well, but we’re ready.”
Import KJ McDaniels fired 26 points and 15 rebounds while Aaron Black and Chris Newsome chipped in 21 and 20 markers, respectively, for the Bolts, who trailed by 22, 62-84, before slowly crawling their way back into the ballgame.
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.
