TNT Tropang GIGA’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (right) in action against NLEX Road Warriors forward Jayvee Mocon in their PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup clash. Photo from PBA Images.MANILA — The TNT Tropang GIGA’s impressive run in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup continued after it staved off the NLEX Road Warriors.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and RR Pogoy led their team to their fifth straight victory after it moved past NLEX, 94-87, in their Wednesday evening faceoff at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

RHJ posted 23 points with 14 rebounds, seven assists, and three blocks, while the Far Eastern University product followed with 18 markers, two dimes, a board, and a steal.

“First of all, we had no delusions that this would be an easy game. We knew that NLEX is fighting for survival so we anticipated it,” said Reyes during the postgame presser of his team which even trailed by nine earlier in the contest.

”[NLEX] took away a lot of the things that we do, and I thought that we were taking it a little bit too easy at the start. Thankfully, we recovered in the end game,” he added of the game that allowed them to improve to 5-2.

The Tropang GIGA even trailed by seven as the third period neared its end, but an eight-to-nothing run by them in-between quarters gave them a 68-67 cushion following a three-pointer by Pogoy with still 10:26 in the last canto.

The two teams exchanged hits as the fourth progressed, but three-pointers from Rey Nambatac and Kim Aurin put TNT up, 76-70, at the 8:06 mark to give Reyes’ troops much-needed momentum and complete their breakaway from their sister squad.

Jonnel Policarpio’s two points with still 4:59 on the game clock allowed the Road Warriors to stay within striking distance, 82-76, but the Tropang GIGA answered with another run, scoring seven markers while also limiting NLEX to a sole foul shot for an 89-77 advantage.

Michael Watkins looked to will his team back as his lay-in at the 2:14 mark brought them to within two possessions, 89-81, but that was the last stand of NLEX as they ended up absorbing a crucial loss, their sixth in nine games.

Watkins led all scorers with a 33-point, 20-rebound game on top of four blocks and two assists, but these all went for naught as the Road Warriors are now tied with the Magnolia Hotshots at ninth place in the team standings.

Kevin Alas also stepped up for NLEX, scattering 16 points, but this wasn’t enough to give his team a lift especially as Robert Bolick struggled, putting up only four points on 2-of-5 shooting in 27:36 minutes of action.

The Scores: 

TNT 94 – Hollis-Jefferson 23, Pogoy 18, Oftana 14, Erram 8, Aurin 8, Castro 6, Razon 6, Nambatac 5, Galinato 2, K.Williams 2, Khobuntin 2, Heruela 0.

NLEX 87 – Watkins 33, Alas 16, Torres 7, Policarpio 6, Mocon 6, Herndon 6, Bolick 4, Valdez 4, Rodger 3, Ramirez 2, Fajardo 0, Nieto 0.

Quarterscores: 24-19, 39-39, 67-63, 94-87.