PBA: ROS seals 6th seed with Q4 breakaway vs TNT

Deon Thompson led the charge anew for sixth-seeded Rain Or Shine. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Rain Or Shine used a fourth-quarter blast to take a 106-96 win against TNT in the final game of the PBA Commissioner's Cup eliminations on Friday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.

Just up by one, 75-74, after the third quarter, the Elasto Painters opened the fourth on a 23-7 run to open a 98-81 cushion with 5:36 left and never looked back.

Deon Thompson led ROS, which sealed the sixth seed and the last spot in the best-of-three zone after moving up to 7-5, with 22 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, and one block.

Anton Asistio added 21 points on 6-of-7 shooting from three-point range, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

Santi Santillan chipped in 20 points on 7-of-12 field goals including 5-of-8 on triples, two rebounds, and one assist, while Caelan Tiongson put up 13 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and one steal.

The team will play third-seeded Converge in the quarterfinals next week.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson made 23 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and three blocks to lead TNT, which despite falling to 8-4 still clinched the second seed plus the one-win bonus in the quarterfinals following Meralco's loss to Magnolia in the first game.

The Tropang Giga will play seventh-seeded Eastern Long Lions in another quarterfinal tie, while the Hotshots and Road Warriors will play on Sunday night for the right to face the top-seeded NorthPort Batang Pier in the next round.

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