RHJ puts up triple-double as TNT sends San Miguel to dangerous position

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson operated on both ends as TNT clamped down on San Miguel, 115-97, to keep its bid for a twice-to-beat bonus alive in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup on Sunday at the Ynares Center Antipolo. 

The resident import fired a huge triple-double performance, dropping 35 points, 21 rebounds, 10 assists alongside three steals and one block to help the Tropang Giga improve to 8-3. 

The loss, however, means the Beermen's fate is no longer in their hands as the defending champions slipped to 5-7 and would need both NLEX (5-6) and Magnolia (5-6) to lose in their last elimination games against Eastern and Meralco, respectively. 

A win by either the Road Warriors or the Hotshots, meanwhile, will eliminate the Beermen.

"I gotta give credit to Coach Chot [Reyes] here and the coaching staff, they come in everyday with a wonderful game plan against whoever we were playing," Hollis-Jefferson said. 

"They put us in the best position to execute and at the end of the day all we need to do is play hard and give effort. When you're not focused, you let yourself down but you also let the staff down."

Hollis-Jefferson started off hot by unleashing 22 points in the first half behind an efficient 4-of-5 shooting percentage from downtown to enable the Tropang Giga to take a 56-49 lead at the halftime break. 

It wasn't all Hollis-Jefferson, however, with TNT getting abundant support from its local cast. 

RR Pogoy caught fire in the third period, firing a three-pointer of his own before he scored seven straight points to carry TNT to a 78-64 cushion as Poy Erram also had a flurry of baskets to help them build an 87-70 lead before the payoff period. 

Jayson Castro then flashed his vintage form in the final canto as the seasoned guard buried a one from the rainbow country for a 96-77 lead. 

San Miguel, though, tried to mount a comeback behind June Mar Fajardo, who took advantage of his size and dominance in the paint by drawing numerous fouls under the rim. He would then sink six consecutive freebies, cutting the deficit to 11 with 4:45 left in the game, 101-90. 

TNT refused to hand the momentum back to San Miguel with Pogoy hitting another three-pointer before Hollis-Jefferson issued a pass that led to a Calvin Oftana triple to complete his triple-double outing. 

Pogoy starred for the locals with 22 points on 4-of-9 three-point shooting while Oftana posted 16 markers. Castro and Erram both finished 14 markers off the bench. 

Fajardo single-handedly lifted SMB in the loss with 34 points, 13 rebounds, one steal, and one block while Don Trollano chipped in 13 markers. 

Scores:

TNT 115 – Hollis-Jefferson 35, Pogoy 22, Oftana 16, Castro 14, Erram 14, Nambatac 6, Williams 6, Galinato 2, Heruela 0, Khobuntin 0, Razon 0, Exciminiano 0.

San Miguel 97 – Fajardo 34, Trollano 13, Pope 10, Tautuaa 10, Lassiter 9, Perez 9, Cruz 6, Ross 3, Tiongson 3, Cahilig 0, Rosales 0.

Quarters: 31-19, 56-49, 87-70, 115-97.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News