TNT Tropang Giga Rondae Hollis Jefferson in a match against the Phoenix Fuel Masters during the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. –PBA IMAGES
Coach Chot Reyes hopes the unusual loss to Terrafirma will serve as a wake-up call for TNT now that it has secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the PBA Commissioners Cup.
“I hope we can take this lesson to heart,” Reyes said as the Tropang Giga bounced back Friday by beating the eliminated Phoenix Fuel Masters, 106-70, at the Ynares Center here in Antipolo City.
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The most lopsided elimination match ensured TNT were the sixth team to advance to the next phase of the mid-season tournament, with two remaining matches against San Miguel Beer and Rain or Shine representing chances to improve their ranking.
The Tropang Giga improved to 7-3 for a three-way tie for third place with the Meralco Bolts and visiting team Hong Kong Eastern.
TNT faces San Miguel on Sunday in a matchup that could determine whether a top-two finish and two-to-beat advantage in the quarters is still a possibility. San Miguel was facing Converge at press time, desperately needing a win to gain ground on Magnolia and NLEX for the #8 spot.
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San Miguel was 4-6 against a Converge team aiming to end the eliminations with a 9-3 slate and a momentary hold of first place in the standings.
But the Tropang Giga will look to return to the form that allowed them to bounce back from a 0-2 start by winning six in a row, before being unexpectedly beaten by the Dyip.
The brutal lesson against Terrafirma, which saw TNT trail by as many as 31 after allowing a barrage of three in the second half, came after a terrific performance that saw the Tropang Giga continue their mastery of Barangay Ginebra last January 17 with a 91-86 victory.
As good as TNT played in the first meeting against Ginebra since the Governors Cup final, it was quite the opposite against a Terrafirma team that avoided a winless conference with a 117-108 triumph.
Reminders ignored
“I guess no matter how much we reminded our players, no matter how we talked to them, I guess it was hard (for them) to believe what we were trying to warn them about,” Reyes said. “Terrafirma played a good game and although we had no problems offensively, we just couldn’t stop their offensive forays.”
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 15 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks in 28 minutes against the Fuel Masters, while RR Pogoy had 12 points, six rebounds and three assists.
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TNT also pummeled Phoenix by hitting 15 threes, including two from Calvin Oftana and Kim Aurin. Both finished with 11 points each. INQ
