MANILA – TNT Tropang Giga clinched the last quarterfinals seat in the 2023-2024 PBA Commissioner’s Cup after a 116-96 victory over Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters on Sunday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson had a near triple-double numbers of 35 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds to go with three steals and one block as the Tropang Giga finished with a 5-6 win-loss slate for eighth place.
Calvin Oftana added 19 markers, rookie Kim Aurin contributed a career-high of 18 points, while Brian Heruela and returning Roger Pogoy had 14 and 11, respectively, for the Tropang Giga.
The victory of the Tropang Giga has formally eliminated their sister team NLEX Road Warriors, which dropped to a 4-7 record with their 103-99 loss to defending champions Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings last Saturday.
Down by as much as 10 points in the second quarter, the Tropang Giga slowly clawed its way back before completing the turnaround in the third quarter for an 88-78 advantage.
The Tropang Giga continued its run in the final quarter with inside hits by Hollis-Jefferson and outside shots by Heruela and Pogoy as the lead reached its largest at 26 points.
Johnathan Williams III finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists, Rodolfo Alejandro Jr. added 12 markers, while Christian Tyler Tio and Sean Manganti ended with 10 each for the Fuel Masters.
For finishing the eliminations as the eighth seed team, the Tropang Giga will have a twice-to-win disadvantage of the no. 1 ranked Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots in the quarterfinals.
The Fuel Masters, on the other hand, dropped to fourth spot with 8-3 win-loss record and will have a twice-to-beat advantage over the no. 5 ranked Meralco Bolts in the final eight.
The other quarterfinals pairings are between no. 2 San Miguel Beermen and the no. 7 ranked Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and no. 3 seed Gin Kings and no. 6 NorthPort Batang Pier with the higher seed having a twice-to-beat edge./PN
BOX SCORE:
TNT 116 – Hollis-Jefferson 35, Oftana 19, Aurin 18, Heruela 14, Pogoy 11, Galinato 6, Williams 4, Montalbo 3, Castro 3, Tungcab 3, Khobuntin 0, Reyes 0, Ponferrada 0, Ganuelas-Rosser 0, Cruz 0, Tolomia 0.
PHOENIX 96 – Williams 21, Alejandro 12, Tio 10, Manganti 10, Perkins 9, Rivero 7, Soyud 6, Jazul 5, Mocon 4, Tuffin 4, Daves 4, Verano 3, Muyang 1, Lalata 0, Garcia 0, Camacho 0.
Quarterscores: 23-27, 51-53, 88-78, 116-96.
