MANILA, Philippines – TNT rode the hot hand of Calvin Oftana from start to finish to outlast Magnolia, 103-100, for its first win in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Wednesday, December 11.
Oftana netted a career-high 42 points built on 9 three-pointers as the Tropang Giga broke through after a disappointing start to the conference that saw them drop their first two games.
Coming out with guns blazing, Oftana poured 23 points in the first half then knocked down big buckets down the stretch to give TNT enough separation to ward off the Hotshots’ last-ditch comeback.
Oftana, who also grabbed 7 rebounds, knocked down a pair of three-pointers in an 11-2 run that allowed the Tropang Giga to mount a 102-91 cushion with 1:22 minutes left.
Magnolia then closed the game on a 9-1 rally but ran out of time to complete its fightback as TNT claimed its first win since it ruled the season-opening Governors’ Cup in November.
“I told my teammates our championship is over, we need to work again,” said Oftana in Filipino. “Hopefully, we’ll be consistent in what we do and we improve on our defense.”
Two-time Best Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson also breached the 40-point mark as he backstopped Oftana with 41 points to go with 13 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals.
It marked the first time a team’s import and local scored at least 40 points each since Terrance Bailey (45 points) and Allan Caidic (42 points) achieved the feat for Presto Tivoli in a 147-136 win over San Miguel in the 1991 Third Conference, according to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon.
Roger Pogoy added 6 points and 5 assists in the win, while Poy Erram chimed in 6 points and 5 rebounds in his return after serving a one-game suspension.
The Tropang Giga were still without veterans Jayson Castro and Kelly Williams.
Import Ricardo Ratliffe produced a 27-point, 14-rebound double-double for Magnolia, which absorbed its third straight defeat and dropped to 1-3.
Mark Barroca, Calvin Abueva, and rookie Jerom Lastimosa each had 18 points in the losing effort.
The Scores
TNT 103 – Oftana 42, Hollis-Jefferson 41, Pogoy 6, Erram 6, Heruela 4, Nambatac 4, Razon 0, Galinato 0, Khobuntin 0, Varilla 0, Aurin 0.
Magnolia 100 – Ratliff 27, Barroca 18, Abueva 18, Lastimosa 18, Sangalang 9, Eriobu 5, Dionisio 3, Mendoza 2, Dela Rosa 0, Ahanmisi 0, Balanza 0.
Quarters: 33-25, 52-48, 83-69, 103-100.
– Rappler.com