MANILA, Philippines — Turning to its tried-and-tested defensive game in the stretch, TNT stopped the giant-killing spree of Converge while stretching its own streak.
The Tropang Giga kept the FiberXers scoreless in the last 3:46 to secure a 98-96 steal and go four in a row in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson knocked down a pair of pivotal jumpers and Calvin Oftana hit a big one from deep as Chot Reyes’ troops erased a five-point deficit and took a two-point cushion with 1:07 left.
They then forced their rivals to a crucial missed three-pointer and a 24-second shot-clock violation before eluding the foul attempts of their Converge defenders in their final offensive to run out the clock and ice it.
The Tropang Giga, who escaped the fate that Ginebra and Meralco suffered at the hands of the FiberXers previously, jacked up their record to 4-2.
Along the way, the reigning Governors’ Cup titlists stopped the four-game roll of their victims, who fell to 6-3.
“For me, the most important thing was to match the desire and the effort of Converge. And I think we were successful in that in this game,” said Reyes.
“I know they get really, really up there when they play against us because obviously, industry rivals right? So I was telling the players since our practice three days ago that the key is for us to be able to match their desire and their hunger to really beat us.”
Hollis-Jefferson finished with 31 plus 11 boards while RR Pogoy rifled in 22 aside from taking primary duties guarding and holding Converge gunner Alec Stockton to only seven.
Rey Nambatac chipped in 13 and Oftana 12 in the TNT victory.
Cheick Diallo scored 37 but failed to score in the stretch for Converge.
Later, Kenneth Tuffin delivered the go-ahead with 0.7 seconds left as Phoenix toppled Rain or Shine, 93-91, to boost its playoffs bid at 3-5. The Fuel Masters stopped the five-match streak of ROS, which slid to 5-2.