MANILA, Philippines -- The TNT Tropang Giga punched their ticket to the PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals after blasting Hong Kong Eastern, 109-93, Thursday evening at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
TNT pulled away late in the third quarter and never looked back to boot the guest team, which played in the East Asia Super League in Taiwan about 24 hours earlier, from the tournament.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson spearheaded the Tropang Giga with 31 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and three steals. Rey Nambatac produced 18 markers and four boards. Jayson Castro turned back the clock with 16 points, three assists and three rebounds, while Poy Erram added 15.
The two teams were kept in a 70-all deadlock in the third quarter after a Cameron Clark jumper.
But a 10-3 run to end the third frame, wherein Clark was benched due to a flagrant foul call, gave TNT a bit of a separation, 80-73.
The local team was able to grab a double-digit advantage, 85-75, but Hong Kong was able to keep in step with them, cutting the deficit to seven, 84-91 with 7:36 remaining.
But a backbreaking 10-0 run capped by a triple by Calvin Oftana pushed the TNT lead to 17, 101-84, with 5:21 left as Eastern could not buy a bucket.
A pair of Hayden Blankley free throws finally put them on the board anew, but it was not enough as Eastern could not creep closer than 15 points.
The lead grew to as much as 19 points, 109-90, with less than 20 seconds to go after an Erram layup.
Oftana added 12 points for TNT, which will be taking on the winner of the best-of-three matchup between the Converge FiberXers and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
Blankley powered Hong Kong with 24 points, while Cameron Clark had 16 markers and eight boards.