Thrillers galore: TNT, Phoenix earn 2-point squeakers over Converge, Rain or Shine

MANILA, Philippines – It was a night of great basketball at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium as TNT and Phoenix forged a pair of single-digit escapes against their respective foes Converge and Rain or Shine in the continuation of the 2025 PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Saturday, January 11.

The contending Tropang Giga leaned on the usual heroics of super import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and local star Calvin Oftana as they edged the feisty FiberXers, 98-96, for their fourth straight win following a 0-2 start to the conference.

Hollis-Jefferson flexed his NBA pedigree anew with a grand line of 31 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block in a full 48-minute run, while Oftana made his touches across 37 minutes count with 12 points, 5 boards, and 3 dimes.

The former NCAA MVP was sitting on just 9 points up until the 2:45 mark of the 4th quarter when he drilled a tying three, 96-all, to complete a short yet crucial 5-0 rally from down 96-91 with 4:14 to play.

Hollis-Jefferson then put the finishing touches with a short, go-ahead jumper with 67 ticks left to push the run to 7-0 and take a 98-96 lead that Converge failed to change in its favor, no thanks to a crucial shot clock violation with just 9 seconds left.

RR Pogoy led the local cast with 22 points on 5-of-9 shooting from three, while Rey Nambatac added 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists in just under 23 minutes of action.

Former NBA player Cheick Diallo, meanwhile, paced the losing cause with game-highs of 37 points and 15 boards as Converge snapped a four-game win streak to skid down a 5-3 card.

Top rookie pick Justine Baltazar tallied 17 points with 6 rebounds as Jordan Heading and Schonny Winston scored 12 and 11, respectively.

In the second game of the double-header, Phoenix stunned Rain or Shine, 93-91, thanks to a clutch putback shot by Kenneth Tuffin with 0.7 seconds left to help snap the Elasto Painters’ five-game winning streak.

The Fil-Kiwi prospect stood out the brightest despite being only the sixth-highest scorer on the Fuel Masters with 8 points as five others churned out double figures led by 22 from import Donovan Smith.

Tyler Tio backstopped the balanced effort with 16 points, while RR Garcia chipped in a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double. Fellow veterans Jason Perkins and RJ Jazul tallied 12 and 11 points, respectively, as Phoenix rose to a 3-5 record in joint ninth with Magnolia and NLEX.

Import Deon Thompson led the heartbreaking loss with a game-high-tying 22 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals, while Santi Santillan added 19 points. Adrian Nocum scored 16 as Rain or Shine remained in second place with a 5-2 slate.

The Scores

First Game

TNT 98 – Hollis-Jefferson 31, Pogoy 22, Nambatac 13, Oftana 12, Khobuntin 8, K.Williams 4, Aurin 3, Erram 3, Castro 2, Razon 0, Exciminiano 0, Galinato 0.

Converge 96 – Diallo 37, Baltazar 17, Heading 12, Winston 11, Arana 9, Stockton 7, Racal 3, Santos 0, Delos Santos 0, Andrade 0, Nieto 0, Javillonar 0.

Quarters: 27-27, 46-44, 77-79, 98-96.

Second Game

Phoenix 93 – Smith 22, Tio 16, Garcia 14, Perkins 12, Jazul 11, Ballungay 8, Tuffin 8, Daves 2, Verano 0, Muyang 0, Alejandro 0, Camacho 0, Ular 0.

Rain or Shine 91 – Thompson 22, Santillan 19, Nocum 16, Clarito 11, Caracut 8, Datu 7, Belga 5, Demusis 3, Malonzo 0, Asistio 0, Ildefonso 0, Norwood 0.

Quarters: 17-18, 50-46, 70-71, 93-91.

– Rappler.com