Tropang Giga Blast Bolts with a Bang in Series Opener | PBA Governors' Cup Semifinal 2023
ONE-WAY ROAD.
TNT’s rapid tempo and explosive firepower were too much for Meralco in the first half of their PBA Governors’ Cup Final Four matchup Friday at the Ynares Sports Complex in Antipolo. The Tropang Giga raced off the starting line and never looked back in a 110-80 victory over the Bolts in Game One of the best-of-five series.
With the top seeds, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and his teammates established a double-digit lead in the first quarter, 31-19, and led by as many as 33 points to extend their hot streak to a tenth straight game.
The Tropa had a huge victory, but coach Jojo Lastimosa wouldn’t let his players relax.
He admires Meralco coach Norman Black because “he’s been there for a long time, he’s won a lot, and he understands how to react in this sort of circumstance.”
With only a day’s rest, the two sides square off in Game Two at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the same site.
Lastimosa said the key to their Game One annihilation was arriving prepared to match the Bolts’ passion, energy, and effort.
“I was simply shocked because it appeared like Meralco was lacking a little enthusiasm, maybe because they came off an emotional victory and maybe they were a little bit on a high, and there’s a lot of reasons,” Lastimosa said.
The Tropang Giga ripped the Bolts apart, with Hollis-Jefferson and RR Pogoy leading the TNT juggernaut.
Hollis-Jefferson had an error-free triple-double with 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists, as well as two steals and two blocks, while Pogoy had 21 points on 5-of-8 three-point shooting.
Calvin Oftana, Mikey Williams, and Jayson Castro contributed at least 12 points.
However, the Bolts struggled, with no player finishing with more than 12 points.
The Bolts were led by KJ McDaniels, who had 12 points and 14 rebounds. (SB)
The results are as follows:
TNT 110: Hollis-Jefferson 22, Pogoy 21, Oftana 15, M.Williams 14, Castro 12, Khobuntin 7, Montalbo 5, Chua 4, Erram 4, Acuno 0, Cruz 0, Varilla 0, Marcelo 0, Ganuelas-Rosser 0.
McDaniels 12, Quinto 11, Newsome 10, Almazan 10, Hodge 9, Jose 9, Black 7, Dario 5, Johnson 3, Hugnatan 2, Maliksi 2, Banchero 0, Caram 0, Pasaol 0, Rios 0, Pascual 0.
Quarters were 31-19, 57-45, 92-66, and 11-80.
