Rondae Hollis-Jefferson put on an electrifying display in Game 2 of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup Finals, showing unwavering endurance as he played all 48 minutes without showing any signs of fatigue. His spirited demeanor was evident, even grinning during a late timeout, reflecting his confidence and energy.
There were plenty of reasons for his upbeat attitude.
TNT Tropang Giga secured a strong 2-0 advantage over Barangay Ginebra with a commanding 96-84 win at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, October 30. This win brings TNT closer to retaining their championship title, thanks to Hollis-Jefferson’s heroic play.
Hollis-Jefferson’s all-around brilliance was on full display as he delivered 37 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists. He played a crucial role in the final stretch, scoring 12 of TNT’s last 13 points and crushing any hope of a Ginebra comeback. His memorable three-pointer late in the game—one of his six treys—followed by an assist to Glenn Khobuntin for another triple, pushed TNT to an insurmountable 94-84 lead with 1:33 left on the clock.
Calvin Oftana contributed a solid double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds, while Khobuntin added another 13 points, including three key three-pointers, to fuel the TNT offense.
With TNT clinging to a slim 72-71 lead, Jayson Castro and RR Pogoy hit back-to-back three-pointers to ignite the final quarter. Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee quickly responded, but Hollis-Jefferson kept the momentum in TNT’s favor with a layup and a free throw, widening the gap to 82-73. From there, Ginebra couldn’t bridge the deficit, despite their best efforts in the final minutes.
Brownlee led Ginebra with 19 points and nine rebounds, with Scottie Thompson adding 18 points and nine rebounds. Stephen Holt and Japeth Aguilar chipped in 11 points each. However, Ginebra’s shooting troubles persisted, hitting only 7 of 27 attempts from beyond the arc, echoing their struggles from Game 1.
The series resumes with Game 3 on Friday, November 1, where TNT will aim to extend their lead to a formidable 3-0 as Ginebra fights to stay in the running.
