TNT waxed hot from the three-point territory and torched Terrafirma, 107-89, to gain a share of the lead in the Group A standings in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 5.
TNT torches Terrafirma from deep to get a share of Group A lead
Sep 5, 2024 12:05 PM
At a glance
TNT waxed hot from the three-point territory and torched Terrafirma, 107-89, to gain a share of the lead in the Group A standings in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 5.
The Tropang Giga were simply on target from the distance, firing 16 triples and a four to effectively neutralize the inside game of the Dyip which heavily relied on the towering presence of import Antonio Hester and Christian Standhardinger.
Three players for TNT fired at least three triples each led by import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson who fired 26 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks while RR Pogoy led four other Tropang Giga locals in double-figures with 14 points spiked by three treys.
JP Erram also had 14 points while Kim Aurin, the other TNT player with three triples, finished with 13 points. Rey Nambatac and Jayson Castro had 10 points apiece.
Still, with the Dyip playing more than their winless record suggests, the Tropang Giga needed a telling 10-0 spurt midway in the fourth quarter to take full control and cruise to their fourth win against a loss and join sister team Meralco atop Group A.
Up only by five, a triple from Glen Khobuntin triggered the telling run and was followed up by baskets from Hollis-Jefferson and Aurin to suddenly erect a comfortable, 95-80 lead with three minutes left.
After scoring a measly two points last time out, Hester went on to work early for Terrafirma dropping 20 points in the first half – a big reason as to why the Dyip remained within striking distance despite missing the services of their main man Juami Tiongson.
Hester, however, was only limited to three points the rest of the way to finish with 23 points to go along with 18 rebounds as the Dyip seemingly lost steam in the homestretch of the contest.
Standhardinger finished with 18 points and 15 rebounds while rookie Paolo Hernandez and Kevin Ferrer had 13 apiece. Stanley Pringle chipped in 12 but all of their efforts went down the drain as the Dyip came out winless through the first round of the eliminations.