TNT boosted its drive for a possible Top 2 finish while sending San Miguel Beer to the brink of elimination with a decisive 115-97 victory in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025.
The Tropang Giga turned what was expected to be a big war into a one-sided match, zooming to a 17-point spread at the half and leading by as many as 20 before sealing the win that propelled TNT to solo second place at 8-3 behind frontrunner NorthPort (9-3).
But idle Meralco is right behind TNT at 7-3, with Converge at 8-4 and Barangay Ginebra at 7-4, keeping it a wild and woolly fight for the Top 2 and the twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.
Significant for TNT was putting itself in a position to contend for the Top 2, overcoming its flat 0-2 start in the tourney.
“That’s the important thing. Things are unpredictable but the best thing is to give ourselves a shot,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes.
They continue their pursuit as they tangle with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in their final game in the elims on Jan. 31 over at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Suffering a big blow was San Miguel Beer with the loss that gave the titleholder a 5-7 closing card.
The Beermen dropped from eighth place to 10th, with the NLEX Road Warriors (5-6) and the Magnolia Hotshots improving to joint eighth.
A win by either NLEX or Magnolia in their closing assignments will close the quarters door on San Miguel. If this happens, it would be the first time in a long, long while that the Beermen would be out of the playoffs picture.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, a tremendous driving force for TNT, was at it again, collecting triple-double numbers with 35 points, 21 rebounds, and 10 assists, plus three steals and one block against two turnovers.
Things became easier for TNT as RR Pogoy contributed 22 points with four treys. Calvin Oftana added 16 markers with four triples, while Jayson Castro and Poy Erram chipped in 14 points each.
June Mar Fajardo led the losing side with 34 points and 13 rebounds.
In the other game, Magnolia survived its first battle for survival with flying colors by fashioning a 107-78 demolition of Hong Kong Eastern.
The Scores:
MAGNOLIA 107 - Ratliffe 25, Lastimosa 20, Lucero 20, Sangalang 14, Barroca 11, Dela Rosa 8, Abueva 5, Alfaro 4, Lee 0, Dionisio 0, Laput 0.
EASTERN 78 - McLaughlin 20, Yang 14, Lam 13, Cao 9, Blankley 9, Guinchard 4, Cheung 3, Pok 3, Chan 2, Zhu 1, Xu 0.
Quarters: 24-19, 50-31, 78-56, 107-78.
TNT 115 - Hollis-Jefferson 35, Pogoy 22, Oftana 16, Castro 14, Erram 14, Nambatac 6, Williams 6, Galinato 2, Heruela 0, Khobuntin 0, Razon 0, Exciminiano 0.
SAN MIGUEL 97 - Fajardo 34, Trollano 13, Pope 10, Tautuaa 10, Lassiter 9, Perez 9, Cruz 6, Ross 3, Tiongson 3, Cahilig 0, Rosales 0.
Quarters: 31-19, 56-49, 87-70, 115-97. / PBA