Furious Q4 rally hands TNT top seed in PBA quarters

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson put up another explosive game to lead TNT to the top seed. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

PASIG—TNT completed a 180-degree turn in the fourth quarter to stun Ginebra, 114-105, in the final game of the PBA Governors' Cup eliminations on Friday night at the PhilSports Arena.

In the decider on which team will enter the quarterfinals as the top seed, the Tropang Giga pulled off a comeback right at the final frame by outscoring the Gin Kings, 32-12.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led TNT, which will face eighth-seeded Phoenix in the quarterfinals with a twice-to-beat advantage, with 34 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, four steals, and one block.

Mikey Williams added 25 points, six assists, and one steal, while RR Pogoy chipped in 22 points, four rebounds, and three steals.

Justin Brownlee made 27 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists for Ginebra, which could have sealed the top seed had it kept its huge lead, which was as high as 14, in the end.

Instead, the team dropped to the third seed with NLEX waiting in the wings on Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Scottie Thompson and Christian Standhardinger each had 19 markers for the Gin Kings with Thompson dishing out 10 assists and Standhardinger grabbing 13 rebounds.

The result means San Miguel will settle for the second seed with a match-up against seventh-seeded Converge also set on Sunday night.

The Scores:

TNT 114 – Hollis-Jefferson 34, M.Williams 25, Pogoy 22, Oftana 12, Castro 12, K.Williams 5, Chua 2, Ganuelas-Rosser 2, Montalbo 0, Varilla 0, Khobuntin 0

GINEBRA 105 – Brownlee 27, Standhardinger 19, Thompson 19, Malonzo 15, Pringle 10, Gray 5, Pessumal 3, David 3, Onwubere 2, Dillinger 2, Pinto 0, Mariano 0

QUARTERS: 23-27, 47-56, 82-93, 114-105

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