TNT Tropang Giga forward Kelly Williams. File photo from PBA Images

MANILA — The TNT Tropang Giga successfully opened their PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup semifinals clash against the Rain or Shine ElastoPainters on Tuesday, holding on for a 90-81 win.

The defending conference champions did their work in the second half, with the Tropang Giga overcoming a 43-39 deficit at halftime. This, according to TNT head coach Chot Reyes, was all thanks to the defensive effort of his troops. 

"I just told the guys at halftime to relax. I thought the game was already going our way. We were down by four, but the pace was in our favor," said Reyes. "We talked about it as a team. The only way we're going to win this series is with our defense."

READ: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, TNT spoil ROS’ comeback hopes for early lead in semis

TNT limited the Elasto Painters to only 38 points in the final 24 minutes of gameplay -- a low outing, as the Tropang GIGA exploded for 36 points just in the third quarter. Reyes said this was a deliberate effort on their part.

"We have to be able to limit Rain or Shine. They're number one, number two in the league in scoring, number one in field goal percentage, in fast break points, and a lot of offensive stats. On the other hand, we're number one in the league in a lot of defensive stats," he pointed out.

"So it's going to be a battle of contrasts, and for us to win, we have to limit their production. So I guess that's the best way to describe the defense. Like Rondae [Hollis-Jefferson] said, just everyone pitching in, but it really starts with that defensive mentality."

However, the Tropang Giga would need to do this with extra effort as the series progresses as one of their main defensive weapons went down early due to an injury — TNT veteran Kelly Wiliams. 

"Unfortunately, when he [Williams] missed that wide-open lay-up? He tweaked something on his [left] calf muscle," revealed Reyes on Williams who exited the game in the first. 

"We hope it's nothing serious, but he couldn't put any weight on it. I think left calf muscle, he couldn't put any weight on it. And you know that Kelly is our primary import defender. We need a lot of him. So we're praying it's something that he can recover from."

"It was Kelly who said that he felt something, so when our physical therapist examined, that's the initial diagnosis. Of course, they're going to do an ultrasound or whatever tonight to get a better understanding of what's really going on."

"That's the reason we sat him out. He really felt something in his calf from the start, so we had to replace him," he added.

Poy Erram and Henry Galinato did their best to cover up Williams’ absence, with the two big men combining for two steals, a block, and six rebounds while also limiting Aaron Fuller to only 18 points on 7/19 shooting from the field, and Reyes lauded the efforts of the two bigs.

"So good thing that we got good games from Poy and Henry," he said.

But for now, what TNT can do to continue covering the defensive hole that Williams’ exit presents is hope for a fast recovery, as well as their other frontline members stepping up further.

"As a team, we have to do it together, have our brothers back out there," said Hollis-Jefferson.

"But all we can do now is hope. All we can do is hope," added Reyes.

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