TNT's playoff experience is coming to the fore, and the question is how will NLEX respond in this critical stage of their quarterfinals dispute.
It's crunch time with the Tropang Giga going for the jugular while the Road Warriors seek equalizer in Game Four of their PBA Governors' Cup race-to-three quarters series at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium Tuesday.
Game time is at 7:30 p.m. with coach Chot Reyes and his crew taking their first of two shots at clinching a semifinals berth after taking the 2-1 lead on a 109-91 rout Sunday over at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.
It was a lopsided affair as the Tropang Giga bounced back big time from a 90-93 slip in Game Two.
And Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and his teammates are now raring to get going in a bid to close out the series and punch a ticket to the Last Four.
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Again the question is how will the Road Warriors respond.
From a loss, the Tropang Giga regrouped and returned with a big fight on both ends of the floor in fashioning out the 18-point blowout Sunday.
Anticipating the same from the Road Warriors, Reyes said they're bracing for a battle and hoping to be able to withstand NLEX's fightback.
On Sunday, the Tropang Giga pressed the right buttons, working on a sleek offense and putting up the defensive clamps that held NLEX's top guns Jalen Jones and Robert Bolick to a mere combined output of 28 points.
Curiously, Hollis-Jefferson nearly outscored the two with his 27.
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"For any team in this league to win by a big margin, it has to be a combination of good defense and good offense. Finally, we were able to put both together," said Reyes on the post-game presser.
Hollis-Jefferson, atoning for his costly errors late in Game Two, produced a near triple-double performance of 27 markers, 12 rebounds and eight assists with just a single turnover to show.
Rebounding from his nine-point showing last time, Calvin Oftana shot 18 with five boards as Rey Nambatac and Glenn Khobuntin matched statlines of 17-6.
Khobuntin made NLEX pay for giving him space to shoot treys.
"We just want to win," said Khobuntin who sparkled with a 5-of-5 three-point shooting.
"Sinabi ni coach kung open kayo, itira ninyo lang. For me, focus sa defense and if mapunta sa akin ang bola, bitawan ko lang. Thankfully, pumasok." (SB)
