MANILA, Philippines — It was a dogfight in the series opener. Then reigning champion TNT just went berserk from there.
The Tropang Giga turned the jets on after the break and ran away with a 108-91 win over Rain or Shine to erect a massive 2-0 lead in the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Led by reigning Best Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson with Calvin Oftana and Rey Nambatac by his wings, TNT unleashed a staggering 38-21 salvo in the third quarter ignited by an 8-0 start and never looked back for a follow-up of their 90-81 win in Game 1.
Calvin Oftana and Rey Nambatac inflicted the most damage on the Elasto Painters in that telling rally, combining for 24 points to complement Hollis-Jefferson’s brilliance of 23 points, eight rebounds and two assists.
Oftana harvested 18 points and 14 rebounds, with three triples coming in the third quarter alone while Nambatac scored 11 of his 17 points in the same period, laced by six rebounds and four assists.
The PBA in a press conference yesterday also at the Big Dome announced that it has suspended controversial cager John Amores all the way to the entirety of the upcoming Commissioner’s Cup without pay following his alleged involvement in the gun-shooting incident in Laguna.
The PBA is leaving it to the court to decide on Amores’ pending case but reiterated that the league’s decision is in violation of the PBA rules — particularly the Uniform Players’ Contract — and will remain in effect even if the case, if ever, is dismissed.
Ultimately, Amores’ suspension, however, could only be lifted if he undergoes counseling and gains clearance from counselors approved by the PBA.
In the main game, San Miguel averted disaster after wasting an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter with a 131-125 overtime win over Ginebra to equalize at 1-1 in their own semis pairing.
Terrence Romeo took over and scored 22 of his 26 points in overtime to complement the efforts of EJ Anosike (35), CJ Perez (28) and June Mar Fajardo (23-21) as the Beermen avenged their 122-105 loss in Game 1.
Justin Brownlee’s 39-point eruption, including 15 points in the fourth-quarter comeback of the Gin Kings, went down the drain.