Tropang Giga zero in on quarterfinals spot

MANILA, Philippines — In back-to-form Calvin Oftana, TNT got the bullet to strike down Meralco.

The sweet-shooting Oftana drilled in six booming triples to spark the Tropang Giga to a 108-99 dispatching of the Bolts and a virtual spot to the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals last night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Regaining his touch after getting sidelined by a bruised hip, Oftana shot at an incredible 85.7-percent clip from the three-point arc (6-of-7) and 75 percent overall (9-of-12) to take scoring cudgels with 25.

As they avenged their 95-101 loss to their first-round tormentors, Chot Reyes’ troops extended their streak to a fourth game and took pole position in Group A at 6-1. Historically, six is a safe number for a ticket to the Last-8.

The Bolts saw their four-game roll snapped, and slipped to 5-2 behind TNT.

“Credit sa mga kasama ko for being unselfish at pinapasahan nila ako sa labas. Sana magtuloy tuloy na,” said Oftana, who missed one game due to that injury.

“As of now, may pain pa rin, medyo masakit pero mahirap i-baby ‘yung mga ganito. Wala namang strain, kailangan lang igalaw para masanay,” added the Gilas Pilipinas mainstay, with his son Khahel on his lap during the post-match presscon.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson took the backseat on Oftana’s explosive night, scattering 22 to go with nine rebounds and two blocks. Kim Aurin, who served as Oftana’s sparring partner in TNT’s first-quarter breakaway, shot 16 as Jayson Castro (12), Poy Erram (11) and comebacking Kelly Williams (nine markers with five boards) helped out.

Williams quickly made an impact in his first game of Season 49. Aside from his strong defensive presence, the 42-year-old veteran made a clutch layup in TNT’s counter against Meralco’s fightback in the homestretch.

“Kelly gives us not only the size but the athletic ability and leadership,” said Reyes.

“Like tonight in the stretch, there were about two, three possessions where we had to make a stop and Kelly was inside to help in those defensive situations. And any points that Kelly scores for us is really a bonus.”

Later, Shabazz Muhammad hit the winning basket in his Magnolia debut as the Hotshots dodged a bullet against Terrafirma, 99-98, for 4-3. The Dyip tumbled to 0-7.