PBA: TNT fends off Meralco comeback for solo Group A lead

TNT’s Calvin Oftana against Meralco’s Allen Durham in the PBA Governors’ Cup. –PBA IMAGES

TNT repelled Meralco’s comeback bid in the fourth quarter to come away with a 108-99 win Thursday and gain sole possession of first place in Group A of the PBA Governors’ Cup at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Calvin Oftana, import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and old reliables Jayson Castro and Kelly Williams came through with big plays as the Tropang Giga repeated over the Bolts and moved alone at the top of the group with a 6-1 record.

Oftana scored 25 points, Hollis-Jefferson had 22 points, seven rebounds and nine assists, Castro added 12 on top of four rebounds, four assists and two steals while Williams put up nine points and six rebounds in his season debut for TNT.

READ: PBA: TNT gets back at Converge to regain Group A lead

Kim Aurin also stepped up for the Tropang Giga by putting up 16 points, four rebounds and four assists.

The Tropang Giga also closed in on officially gaining a spot in the quarterfinals even as the Bolts saw their four-game winning streak come to an end.

Meralco dropped to second with a 5-2 record, still in a strong position to get past the group stage.

READ: PBA: Vintage Jayson Castro comes through in clutch for TNT

Import Allen Durham played through sickness and posted 26 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in the loss. Bolts coach Luigi Trillo said Durham opted to suit up despite talks of him sitting out the marquee match.

Meralco trailed by a high of 14, but got into three on multiple occasions in the fourth, the last at 100-97 with 2:51 to go.

But back-to-back baskets from Williams and Castro, the last after intercepting a pass that led to a transition layup followed by a layup from Oftana gave TNT a 106-97 lead, time down to less than a minute in the contest.