TNT came out guns blazing from deep in the first half and torched NLEX with a 109-91 victory to knock on the semifinals doors in Game 3 of the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup quarterfinals at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Sunday, Sept. 29.

The Tropang Giga drilled 11 of their 15 three-point conversions through the first two quarters with Glenn Khobuntin leading the way with a perfect 5-of-5 clip and setting the tone to a convincing victory that gave TNT a 2-1 lead over NLEX in the best-of-five affair.

Khobuntin fired 17 points and six rebounds while also helping TNT put a body on NLEX’s high scoring import DeQuan Jones. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson did a little bit of everything with 27 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, a steal and a block.

Calvin Oftana also joined the three-point party, knocking down three triples to finish with 18 points while Rey Nambatac also had 17 spiked by two treys and a four. 

Kelly Williams was the other double-digit scorer with 11 points for TNT which led by 21 points, 61-40, at the break.

As explosive as TNT’s offense, its defense also proved to be topnotch in the contest when the Tropang Giga limited the touches not only of Jones but also the Road Warriors main gunner in Robert Bolick.

After exploding for 38 points in each of the first two games, Jones was limited to just 16 points although he still had 10 rebounds to his name. Bolick, likewise, finished with only 12 on just eight attempts but deferred to his teammates evident to his 10 assists.

Robert Herndon paced NLEX with 17 points although the Road Warriors never really got into a run big enough in the second half to threaten TNT.