Jayson Castro led the TNT Tropang Giga to a hard-fought 88-84 win over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, taking the early lead in their best-of-seven semifinal series in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, held Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Despite struggles with his shooting, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson came through with two crucial baskets in the final moments, helping the Tropang Giga prevent the Elasto Painters from forcing overtime and securing the victory. Castro and Calvin Oftana, both fresh off intense national team duties, also played pivotal roles in TNT’s big win.
Castro topped the team with 24 points, his highest output in two years. Hollis-Jefferson, who shot just 8-of-27 from the field, still managed to put up 23 points, while Oftana made a huge impact with six three-pointers, finishing with 22 points.
Rain or Shine fought hard but couldn’t capitalize on their chances to catch up. With TNT holding a 87-84 lead with two minutes remaining, their defense stepped up to seal the win.
Rain or Shine started strong, building a lead of as much as eight points in the second quarter. However, TNT responded with Oftana’s four triples in the period, leading them to a 51-47 halftime advantage.
Import Deon Thompson led Rain or Shine with 29 points and 16 rebounds, while Adrian Nocum added 18 points.
With TNT now leading the series 1-0, they will aim to extend their advantage in Game 2, set for Friday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
