TNT Sends a Chilling PBA Playoff Warning After Blowing Past Top-Seeded Magnolia

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The seedings said Magnolia was the team to beat in this quarterfinal series. TNT spent Sunday night in Antipolo making a very different case, and the Hotshots had no answer.

The No. 4 seed Tropang 5G won Game 1 of the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup quarterfinals, 92-70, on Sunday, Oct. 25, at the Ynares Center. The best-of-five series resumes Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the same venue.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led TNT with 26 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals in the Tropang 5G’s 22-point win over Magnolia. [PBA Images]

TNT Defense Stifles Magnolia

The reigning Governors’ Cup champions held the Magnolia Hotshots, the top defensive team in the eliminations, to a conference-low 70 points. The loss ended Magnolia’s six-game winning streak.

TNT controlled the pace from the start, winning every quarter and building a lead of as many as 25 points. The final margin was 22.

Coach Chot Reyes credited the defense. “What was commendable tonight was the players’ attention to details – their awareness and communications on defense. We always talked about communication on defense. We’re good on those elements tonight,” he said.

The win also gave Reyes the edge in his first playoff meeting against LA Tenorio as opposing coaches. Magnolia entered the series as the Group B top seed.

Hollis-Jefferson Powers TNT Rout

Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led TNT with 26 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals, outplaying Magnolia import KJ Buffen. He did it after missing his first six shots.

Once Hollis-Jefferson found his rhythm, TNT pulled away, leading 42-33 at halftime and 68-51 entering the fourth quarter. Calvin Oftana added 13 points, while RR Pogoy and Rey Nambatac scored 12 each.

“I feel like I haven’t played in a while. They’re the No. 1 defensive team and that’s something we talked heavily about,” Hollis-Jefferson said.

“But that’s what we talked about – resilient, that’s what we’ve been working on. We did our job and the rest will take care of itself. It’s not gonna be easy,” he added.

Buffen finished with 18 points and Zav Lucero added 14 for Magnolia. The Hotshots must bounce back quickly in Game 2.

For Reyes, the next task is maintaining the intensity. “We have to be ready for whatever adjustments they will make in the next game,” he said.