Rondae Hollis-Jefferson foiled a Deon Thompson dunk and then raced the length of the floor for a layup. The next possession, he knocked the ball out of Adrian Nocum’s hands and then soared for an emphatic slam.

He served. He ate. And left no crumbs.

The TNT import presided over huge offensive thrust as he carried his team to a second straight Finals appearance after taking down Rain or Shine, 97-92, in Game 5 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Friday, March 7.

Hollis-Jefferson, all while battling through foul trouble, took over on both ends of the floor, firing 42 points – 17 of which he fired in the final frame when the Tropang Giga suddenly took control of the contest after trailing by as many as 13 in the second half.

Still down 12 in the third frame, 51-63, TNT unloaded a back-breaking 16-4 run to come knocking at Rain or Shine’s door with one quarter left to play. 

The Elasto Painters had some answers from Thompson and Andrei Caracut but the Tropang Giga just never let go of the momentum as their air tight defense completed consecutive stops to finally take the lead, 78-77, on a Hollis-Jefferson fadeaway.

TNT never looked back since then as it kept ROS at bay to book the franchise’s 24th finals appearance.