PBA: TNT crushes Macau by 55 points as Rondae Hollis-Jefferson makes resounding return 

TNT unloaded a huge second quarter to pull away and pull off a 142-87 win against Macau and mark Rondae Hollis-Jefferson's return in the PBA Season 50 Governors' Cup on Tuesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The returning import finished with 22 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals in his first game back since sustaining an Achilles tear last December while Calvin Oftana posted 28 markers and five boards as TNT improved to 7-4.

Moreover, TNT has also clinched a quarterfinals berth as the luckless Macau fell to a 2-9 card with only one game left in its elimination round assignment.

"Ever since, our plan for the playoffs was to have Rondae. Now we found an opportunity to ease him in slowly. Instead of playing him two games ago, he had to go home because his grandmother died, so he was delayed for one week," TNT head coach Chot Reyes said.

"We were very fortunate to get replacements like Nick Hornsby to give us those two wins."

Only holding a 28-21 advantage at the end of the first period, TNT stepped on the gas in the second period with RR Pogoy, Kim Aurin, Paul Varilla, and Jeo Ambohot combining for five triples that sent the Tropang 5G to a 46-27 cushion.

Jordan Heading knocked down a triple of his own before Hollis-Jefferson hit three straight baskets that extended that lead to a 62-30 lead.

TNT refused to slow down, unleashing 38 points in the third period while limiting the Giant Pandas to just 18 to build a massive 102-58 cushion en route to the 55-point thrashing.

Macau's import Oscar Lopez paced the guest team with 43 points and 10 rebounds while Kobey Lam chipped in 13 markers.

Scores:

TNT 142 – Oftana 28, Hollis-Jefferson 22, Erram 15, Jalalon 11, Heading 11, Galinato 11, Aurin 10, Enciso 9, Nambatac 8, AM bohot 6, Pogoy 6, Varilla 5, Quitevis 0, Celzo 0, Castro 0.

Macau 87 – Lopez 43, Lao 14, Lam 13, Liu 4, Sun 4, Chen 3, Chao 2, Lu 2, Zhu 2, Zhang 0.

Quarters: 28-21, 64-40, 102-58, 142-87.

—JKC, GMA News