The TNT Tropang Giga secured a hard-fought victory over the Magnolia Hotshots, edging them 84-82 on Tuesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. This marked TNT’s seventh win in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup, keeping them atop the Group A standings.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson Leads the Way for TNT

TNT’s star import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson put on a dominant performance, scoring 29 points and grabbing 25 rebounds to lift his team to victory. RR Pogoy provided additional firepower, contributing 19 points and five rebounds. Despite Magnolia’s relentless pursuit, TNT held on until the final buzzer.

TNT’s Struggles at the Free-Throw Line

Despite the win, TNT head coach Chot Reyes pointed out some areas where the team needs improvement, especially their performance at the free-throw line. TNT missed 11 of their 32 attempts, converting only 21 free throws, which kept the game closer than expected.

“First of all, free throws. We gotta make our free throws. The game could have been a lot more comfortable for us if we had made the majority of our free throws,” said Reyes during the postgame interview.

Magnolia’s Late Rally Led by Paul Lee

Magnolia remained within striking distance thanks to the efforts of Paul Lee, who sank a critical three-pointer with just 14 seconds left to bring the Hotshots within four points at 82-78. Lee then forced a turnover on TNT, but he couldn’t maintain possession, giving the Tropang Giga a chance to recover.

Jayson Castro Seals the Win for TNT

Veteran guard Jayson Castro made sure TNT wouldn’t let the game slip away. Castro calmly sank two clutch free throws in the dying seconds to extend their lead to 84-78, effectively sealing the win for his team despite Magnolia’s last-minute push.

Shabazz Muhammad’s Effort Not Enough for Magnolia

Magnolia’s import Shabazz Muhammad delivered a remarkable performance, finishing with 30 points and 17 rebounds. However, his efforts weren’t enough to overcome TNT’s lead, as Magnolia fell short in the final moments of the game.

Coach Chot Reyes Sees Valuable Playoff Preparation

While the game revealed some weaknesses in TNT’s play, Coach Chot Reyes viewed it as valuable preparation for the upcoming playoffs. “These are the kinds of games we’re going to face in the playoffs. So I thought this was really good preparation for us,” he said.

Next Matches for TNT and Magnolia

Looking ahead, the Tropang Giga will aim for their sixth consecutive victory when they face Terrafirma on Thursday. Meanwhile, Magnolia will try to bounce back against NorthPort on Friday.

The Scores:

TNT 84 – Hollis-Jefferson 29, Pogoy 19, Oftana 10, Castro 9, Williams 9, Khobuntin 4, Heruela 3, Erram 1, Exciminiano 0, Vosotros 0, Varilla 0

MAGNOLIA 82 – Muhammad 30, Lee 13, Ahanmisi 12, Barroca 10, Lucero 10, Dela Rosa 2, Abueva 2, Laput 2, Dionisio 1, Mendoza 0, Sangalang 0

Quarter Scores: 18-19, 40-36, 60-64, 84-82

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