Hollis-Jefferson comes to rescue anew as streaking TNT escapes Converge

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson flexed his clutch genes once more after lifting TNT to another escape victory against a surging Converge, 98-96, to keep their own streak alive in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup on Saturday. 

Hollis-Jefferson did again what he did just four days ago when he sank the game-winning free throws in the Tropang Giga’s 101-99 win over Meralco last Tuesday, knocking down a tough fadeaway jumper this time around over Cheick Diallo to give TNT a 98-96 lead with 1:07 to go. 

Then it was defense that finished the job for the Tropang Giga, forcing Jordan Heading and Alec Stockton to miss their shots down the stretch as the FiberXers failed to secure the deliberate foul in the final seven seconds. 

With the win, TNT extended its streak to four and now carries a 4-2 card after a tough 0-2 start to the conference while Converge snapped its four-game surge and fell to a 6-3 record.

"They're the best shooting team in the league, they're shooting the highest percentage so our main concern was how can we defend them and stay in front of them to force them to miss shots," TNT head coach Chot Reyes said. 

"As you can see in the stats, they doubled their offensive rebounds so that was the big problem and that was a huge gamble that we were grappling with the whole game. If we don't send help, then their shooting percentage is going to take effect."

Both teams went back and forth for the most part of the game with neither side taking a double-digit lead, except for the 14-2 cushion TNT built early in the first quarter. 

It became a close affair since then with Converge taking momentum in the third, which they ended with a 79-77 lead thanks to a Deschon Winston triple and a buzzer-beater layup from Justine Baltazar off an Alec Stockton dish. 

TNT, however, did not allow Converge to build on that, banking on their outside shooting with Calvin Oftana, Glenn Khobuntin, and RR Pogoy combining for four triples to come within a solitary point, 91-92. 

The FiberXers, though, answered with four straight points courtesy of a putback basket and a layup from Diallo as they regained a much-needed 96-91 advantage with 4:10 to go. 

Hollis-Jefferson answered with a jumper of his own before Oftana hit another massive trey from downtown to force a 96-all deadlock. Veteran Kelly Williams secured a pivotal offensive rebound that set the stage for Hollis-Jefferson's game-winning jumper at the baseline. 

Hollis-Jefferson erupted for 31 points alongside 11 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block while Pogoy, who was helped off the court after just 52 seconds on the court in the first quarter, was able to finish with 22 points, including 17 in the second half. 

Rey Nambatac and Oftana posted 13 and 12 markers apiece while Khobuntin tallied eight points. 

The loss spoiled Diallo's 37-point outing that he laced with 15 rebounds, two blocks, and one assist as Baltazar collected 17 markers, six boards, and two dimes in their first loss in nearly a month, or since fell to NorthPort, 108-101, last December 12. 

Scores:

TNT 98 – Hollis-Jefferson 31, Pogoy 22, Nambatac 13, Oftana 12, Khobuntin 8, K.Williams 4, Aurin 3, Erram 3, Castro 2, Razon 0, Exciminiano 0, Galinato 0.

Converge 96 – Diallo 37, Baltazar 17, Heading 12, Winston 11, Arana 9, Stockton 7, Racal 3, Santos 0, Delos Santos 0, Andrade 0, Nieto 0, Javillonar 0.

Quarters: 27-27, 46-44, 77-79, 98-96.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News