TNT drew first blood in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals, pulling off a commanding 95-89 victory over Barangay Ginebra in Game 1 at the MOA Arena on Friday. A hot shooting performance, combined with the all-around brilliance of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, gave the Tropang Giga the early edge in the best-of-seven series.
TNT’s early dominance sets the tone
Ginebra started strong, controlling the early minutes, but TNT quickly turned the tide with a dominant run to close the first quarter. The Tropang Giga stormed ahead 29-18 and never looked back, maintaining control for the rest of the game.
Hollis-Jefferson was unstoppable, finishing with 34 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists. He was well-supported by TNT’s sharpshooters, who drained 14 three-pointers, overwhelming Ginebra’s defense.
![Rondae Hollis-Jefferson powers TNT to a Game 1 victory with a near triple-double performance. [PBA Images]](http://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/PBA-Images317.jpg)
“Our players kept their composure even when Ginebra made a run,” TNT coach Chot Reyes said. “We expected them to fight back, and we had to stay focused on our defense.”
Three-point barrage fuels TNT win
TNT’s perimeter shooting was the difference-maker. The Tropang Giga shot 14-of-37 from beyond the arc, compared to Ginebra’s 7-of-28 clip.
RR Pogoy led the long-range attack with five triples, while Calvin Oftana, Kelly Williams, Rey Nambatac, and Glenn Khobuntin added two each. Despite the absence of veteran playmaker Jayson Castro, TNT’s balanced scoring helped them secure the win.
Pogoy finished with 15 points, Oftana and Nambatac chipped in 10 apiece, while Williams and Khobuntin each had 8.
Ginebra struggles to close the gap
Despite trailing by as much as 16 points, Ginebra fought back behind Justin Brownlee’s 28 points and 15 rebounds. Scottie Thompson added 17 points, while RJ Abarrientos contributed 13.
The Kings threatened in the second half but couldn’t complete the comeback as TNT responded with timely baskets and strong defense.
“We let them take control early, and it was tough to recover,” Brownlee said. “We have to make adjustments for Game 2.”
Looking ahead to Game 2
With TNT holding a 1-0 lead, Ginebra is expected to come out stronger in Game 2 on Sunday. Reyes remains cautious, anticipating a tougher challenge from the Kings.
“We can’t relax. Ginebra is too good and too deep,” Reyes warned. “We have to be ready for a big response from them in Game 2.”
