By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The TNT Tropang Giga survived the resilient Magnolia Hotshots Chicken Timplados during their PBA Governor’s Cup clash, 84-82, on September 17, 2024, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Carrying a huge momentum after entering the matchup with a four-game winning streak, the Tropang Giga found a way to neutralize Magnolia after a clutch outing in the fourth quarter backstopped by their defensive efficiency the whole game.
Magnolia’s 82-point outing is their second-lowest offensive total in the ongoing import-laced conference after the Tropang Giga stifled them with their gap coverage in the passing lanes.
After holding a seven-point lead midway through the third frame, the Chicken Timplados quickly fell flat and was bothered by TNT’s defensive pressure in the perimeter.
Those steals and friendly taps paved the way for the Tropang Giga’s comeback effort as they retook the lead and controlled the pace of the ball game in the final five minutes.
Magnolia fought and turned the game into a mano-a-mano affair but TNT’s superstar import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson broke the Hotshots’ hearts after making the two biggest plays that sealed them their fifth consecutive victory.
With Magnolia threatening to pull within a point in the 2:23 mark of the fourth, Jefferson scored a huge block on Zavier Lucero who attempted for a wide-open layup.
After the completed defensive stop, Jefferson then iced the ball game with a fade-away jumper in the left baseline with only 48 seconds remaining in the game.
That Jefferson cash fade ballooned TNT’s advantage to seven points, 82-75, and was enough to contain Magnolia’s last-second efforts who got to within a deuce in the final 1.1 seconds.
However, the Tropang Giga wisely pitched the ball ahead and milked the clock, resulting in back-to-back wins over Magnolia who never got the better of TNT in the classification phase.
Jefferson once again stole the limelight for the Tropang Giga after pulling off a stellar outing of 29 points and 25 rebounds.
The former NBA elite talent took over when it mattered the most in the final two quarters of the game and dropped 18 of his 29 markers in the second half.
RR Pogoy also stepped up for TNT after chipping in 19 points while his backcourt partner Calvin Oftana added 10 markers.
On the other hand, Magnolia had a dominant game from Shabazz Muhammad who had 30 points and 17 rebounds but the Chicken Timplados got hunted with one of their worst shooting performances from the three-point territory.
