MANILA – TNT Tropang Giga rode on the hot shooting of Calvin Oftana to score a 108-99 victory over sister team Meralco Bolts in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
The Gilas Pilipinas forward converted six of his seven three-point attempts to finish with 25 points to go with seven rebounds and three assists as the Tropang Giga surged to solo first place in Group A with 6-1 win-loss slate.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson added 25 points, six rebounds, and three assists, Kim Aurin contributed 16 markers, while Jayson Castro and John Paul Erram had 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the Tropang Giga.
Holding to a slim 100-97 lead, the Tropang Giga got consecutive baskets from Kelly Williams, Castro, and Oftana to stretch the lead to 106-97 with under a minute left in the game.
The Bolts responded with an inside basket from Chris Banchero, but Hollis-Jefferson wrapped up the victory for the defending champions Tropang Giga with two made free throws.
Allen Durham top-scored for the Bolts with 26 points, Chris Newsome added 23 markers, Kier John Quinto and CJ Cansino tallied 12 points each, and Banchero ended with 10. They dropped to a 5-2 win-loss card.
On Wednesday evening, Marcio Lassiter achieved a personal milestone as San Miguel Beermen secured a come-from-behind 119-114 victory over NLEX Road Warriors.
The former Gilas Pilipinas mainstay finished with 17 points, including four three-point conversions, to go with five rebounds and two assists as the Beermen improved to a 4-2 win-loss slate.
Lassiter’s four outside conversions moved him up to second place PBA’s all-time career three-pointers made with his 1,243 connections, eclipsing the 1,242 of former SMB legend Allan Caidic.
“Coming into this game, my expectation was to win, I kept my mind off in it, at the same time, our team knows, so it is wonderful for coach to draw great plays for me, as well as my teammates to find me,” Lassiter said./PN
BOX SCORE:
TNT 108 – Oftana 25, Hollis-Jefferson 22, Aurin 16, Castro 12, Erram 11, Pogoy 9. Williams 9, Nambatac 4, Heruela 0, Khobuntin 0.
MERALCO 99 – Durham 26, Newsome 23, Quinto 12, Cansino 12, Bancheor 10, Caram 8, Pasoal 4, Rios 4, Bates 0, Pascual 0, Mendoza 0, Jose 0.
Quarterscores: 32-20, 49-44, 78-67, 108-99.
