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By REYNALD MAGALLON
Calvin Oftana put up a conference-best showing as TNT asserted its mastery over last conference’s Finals rival Barangay Ginebra, 91-86, to inch closer to a quarterfinals seat in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup at the PhilSports Arena on Friday, Jan. 17.
The versatile forward erupted for 32 points built on six triples and including two pressure-packed free throws with 6.2 seconds left that sealed the game for the league-leading Tropang Giga.
Not only that TNT completed a repeat against a retooled Ginebra squad which added Troy Rosario and welcomed back Jamie Malonzo this conference but it also extended its winning streak to six and solidified its hold of the top spot with a 6-2 record.
It was a game-long brilliance for Oftana, who, after a strong first half, turned his game a notch higher in the second half where the Tropang Giga created some sort of separation and enough to cushion another comeback effort from the Kings.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson filled the stat sheet in yet another no-relief effort with 25 points, 13 rebounds, six assists to go with two steals and a block while JP Erram added 10.
With the game tied at 70-all early in the payoff period, TNT unloaded a deciding 17-5 run to take a commanding 87-75 lead.
Ginebra, like what it usually does, made a last-ditch effort in the waning minutes, going into an 11-2 counter attack to come within three, 89-86. Ginebra tried to play the foul game but it sent the wrong man to the line with Oftana icing the game with the clutch free throws.
Ginebra still had the chance to send the game to overtime but Justin Brownlee and RJ Abarrientos missed their respective triple tries as the game clock expired.
Meanwhile, Steven Guinchard lit it up from the distance as Eastern formally clinched a spot in the quarterfinals by virtue of its 134-110 victory over the also-ran Terrafirma.
Guinchard drilled six triples and one four on his way to 20 points to help the Hong Kong-based team overcome a tough stand from the Dyip even without import Chris McLaughlin who hurt his ankle five minutes into the game.
Eastern actually picked up the slack with Ramon Cao topscoring with 23 points and seven rebounds while Kobey Lam added a double-double of 20 points and 10 assists.
Hayden Blankley chipped in 16 while Hao Zhu and Yuet Yeung Pok were the other players in double-figures with 13 and 11, respectively, for Eastern which shook off the hard-fighting Terrafirma behind a huge fourth quarter explosion.
The Dyip were actually within striking distance heading into the final frame, 79-88, but Eastern opened the floodgates by pouring 45 points in the payoff period.