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| Rondae Hollis-Jefferson dropped 38 points in his best game back from a dreaded Achilles injury. Peter Baltazar |
MANILA—While probably still a tad slower than before, owing to his surgically repaired Achilles tendon, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson played like he did not suffer a major injury at all as he led TNT to a 98-87 win against Magnolia in Game 3 of the PBA Governors' Cup quarterfinals on Halloween Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Hollis-Jefferson helped the Tropang 5G deliver the dreaded sweep against the Hotshots, dropping 38 points on 16-for-29 shooting alongside nine rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
Magnolia somehow managed to keep the game close for most of the first half, but a third-quarter breakaway that opened a 79-56 lead did the trick for TNT.
RR Pogoy added 12 points, going 6-for-7 on inside shots, two rebounds, and one assist for the Tropang 5G, who could find themselves playing Barangay Ginebra in the semifinals if they complete their own quarterfinal sweep against the San Miguel Beermen on Tuesday night at the Dasmariñas City Arena.
KJ Buffen put up 31 points on 11-for-20 shooting, including 5-for-8 from long range, five rebounds, and two assists for the Hotshots, who, despite taking the top seed in Group B, were eliminated in the quarterfinals once again.
