TNT withstands Meralco's last push for 5th straight win

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson flirted with a triple-double for TNT. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

QUEZON CITY—TNT continued its hot streak in the PBA Governors' Cup after escaping Meralco's last gasp for a 111-104 win on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Clutch free throws kept the Tropang Giga afloat as the Bolts came just close to stealing the win only to fall short in the end.

Clinging to a lead as high as 22 points late in the third quarter, TNT found itself still not out of the woods yet as Meralco drew to as close as six with time winding down in the fourth.

However, charities from Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Jayson Castro, and Glenn Khobuntin helped the Tropang Giga seal the win despite the Bolts' gallant stand.

Hollis-Jefferson finished with 34 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, and two steals, while Mikey Williams added 25 points, five rebounds, and one assist for TNT, which has now won five straight games to go up to 7-1 in the team standings.

KJ McDaniels put up 26 points, 15 rebounds, one assist, and one steal for Meralco, which fell for the second straight game and slipped to 3-3.

The Scores:

TNT 111 – Hollis-Jefferson 34, M.Williams 25, Oftana 19, Castro 16, Khobuntin 6, Pogoy 4, Montalbo 4, K.Williams 3, Varilla 0, Chua 0

MERALCO 104 – McDaniels 26, Black 21, Newsome 20, Banchero 11, Maliksi 11, Hodge 6, Quinto 4, Caram 2, Almazan 2, Pascual 1, Jose 0

QUARTERS: 27-25, 56-42, 86-69, 111-104

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