PBA semifinals: TNT escapes Rain or Shine to take Game 1

TNT Tropang Giga guard Jayson Castro during a PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals game against Rain or Shine Elastopainters. –PBA IMAGES

TNT made stops down the stretch to hold off Rain or Shine, 88-84, and draw first blood in the opener of their best-of-seven semifinal series in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson bucked his shooting struggles by making two crucial attempts even as he and the rest of the Tropang Giga prevented the Elasto Painters from at least forcing overtime to secure the victory.

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Jayson Castro and Calvin Oftana, fresh from grueling national team duties, also keyed the win as TNT opened its third consecutive playoff battle with Rain or Shine on a high note.

Castro led the way with 24 points, his highest output in two years, Hollis-Jefferson overcame an 8-of-27 clip to put up 23 points while Oftana hit six triples on his way to 22 for TNT.

TNT Tropang Giga Rondae Hollis-Jefferson during a PBA Commissioner’s Cup game against Rain or Shine Elastopainters. –PBA IMAGES

The Tropang Giga go for a 2-0 lead in Game 2 set Friday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Rain or Shine couldn’t convert on its attempts to close in on TNT, which held an 87-84 lead with two minutes left.

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The Elasto Painters opened for a pair of high-percentage baskets courtesy of Caelan Tiongson and Jhonard Clarito, only to get stopped in the paint by the Tropang Giga defense.

Import Deon Thompson had 29 points and 16 rebounds while Adrian Nocum added 18 for Rain or Shine.

Rain or Shine’s biggest lead was at eight in the second, before TNT came back with Oftana hitting all four triples in that quarter and taking a 51-47 halftime lead.

Oftana’s shooting came despite being out of the country and out of TNT’s semis buildup for two weeks due to his duties playing for Gilas Pilipinas in the final window of the Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers.