THE TNT Tropang Giga are halfway through the target in the PBA Governors Cup finals.
From a blowout win in the series opener Sunday, the Tropang Giga endured Barangay Ginebra's expected tough fightback, once again staying locked-in on their schemes and repeating with a 96-84 win to erect a 2-0 lead in the race-to-four series Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was a great catalyst in asserting himself a lot more, coming through with 37 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists as the Tropa moved within two wins of a successful defense of the crown they won over the same rivals in 2023.
The Kings, who threw bricks in their 104-88 setback in the series opener, found their groove and engaged the Tropang Giga in a battle through three quarters in this tiff.
Alas, they lost their touch in the payoff period, and the Tropang Giga pounced on the situation, working on an 18-10 tear to open a 91-81 lead before eventually taking the crucial win.
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Coach Chot Reyes and his troops try to make it 3-0 in a rare All Saints Day gig for the league Friday, also at the Big Dome.
Held to just two triples in Game One, the Kings had their connections, hitting seven in the first three quarters in this contest, but ended up badly beaten in three-point shooting, with TNT making 14-of-37 as against Ginebra's 7-of-27.
RHJ fired six bombs from afar, the last one settling the outcome of the game at 91-81.
Earlier, Jayson Castro and RR Pogoy drained back-to-back treys to spark TNT's crucial run from a 72-71 edge at the start of the final period.
TNT had four treys in all in the fourth as against nothing for Ginebra.
Calvin Oftana and Glenn Khobuntin knocked in three each, with both winding up with a total of 13 points apiece.
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Oftana finished with a double-double game as he snared 14 rebounds. Khobuntin, meanwhile, was as instrumental as he had his minutes guarding Justin Brownlee whom they held to 19 markers.
It was a tough night for Ginebra even with Scottie Thompson, Stephen Holt and Japeth Aguilar contributing 18, 11 and 11 points, respectively.
The Kings jumped out of the starting gate, taking an early double-digit lead at 21-11, but the Tropang Giga were quick to make an adjustment and grabbed control, 49-41, through the first half. (SB)
