Rondae Hollis Jefferson leads TNT to a PBA Governors’ Cup Finals return after ousting Rain or SHine. –PBA IMAGES
ANTIPOLO — TNT left nothing to chance on Friday night, beating Rain or Shine black and blue, 113-95, to punch a return ticket to the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals.
Buoyed yet again by import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, the Tropang Giga, defending champions of this conference, claimed the first seat in the championship series before a packed Ynares Center here.
“There’s no secret to our game, we really hang our hats in our ability to stop the other. When we make stops we give ourselves a lot of opportunities—and we need a lot of opportunities because we don’t really shoot the ball particularly well,” said head coach Chot Reyes.
READ: PBA: With defense focused on him, RHJ still finds ways for TNT
Hollis-Jefferson had 36 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and six steals to lead TNT back to the final showdown, where they could play either San Miguel or Barangay Ginebra again for a replay of the last edition of the tournament finalé.
The Tropang Giga opened the second period with a 12-to-nothing tear and never looked back.
“We got a win and we’re going to the Finals, but that’s not the end. That’s not the end for us. We want to be champions again at the end of the day, so we know what we have to do,” said Hollis-Jefferson, who will try to replicate his last finish with the club: with a crown.
READ: PBA: Playing TNT’s pace sends Rain or Shine to the brink of exit
“We’ll take this rest and lock in and see who wins the next series and start that process because that’s what’s it about at the end of the day,” he added.
The Finals unfurl on Oct. 27. Game 1 will played at the hilltop arena.
Rain or Shine, easily the feel-good story of this tournament, is set to formally finish the Governors’ Cup 3rd place—the club’s best finish since the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup when Caloy Garcia was still calling the shots.