TNT spoils Asi Taulava’s jersey retirement, Robert Bolick’s NLEX debut

The TNT Tropang Giga participated in Asi Taulava’s jersey retirement ceremony during halftime and then dominated the second half, resulting in a 113-97 victory over the NLEX Road Warriors on Wednesday night at the PhilSports Arena.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson outperformed Stokley Chaffee, while Calvin Oftana delivered an impressive performance, helping the Tropang Giga break their two-game losing streak and improve to a 3-3 record at the midway point of their PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup elimination campaign.

Unfortunately, the Road Warriors, despite their strong start and first-half lead, couldn’t maintain their momentum and suffered their fourth consecutive defeat in the end, dropping to a 2-6 record.

The game held special significance for the Road Warriors, as it marked Robert Bolick’s debut in an NLEX uniform and Taulava’s final season at the age of 50, which also happened to be his record-breaking 24th season.

Taulava, along with Chaffee, Rob Herndon, Matt Nieto, and Enoch Valdez, started the game for NLEX. Taulava played for one minute and 56 seconds, during which he secured one defensive rebound.

Meanwhile, Bolick, who was acquired through a trade from NorthPort, entered the game during the middle of the first quarter and significantly contributed to the Road Warriors’ commanding 58-39 lead at halftime, extending it to a commanding 22-point advantage.

However, the Tropang Giga displayed a remarkable resurgence after the halftime break, spoiling the Taulava/Bolick/NLEX celebration.

Following the tribute for Taulava, Hollis and his teammates unleashed a tremendous offensive onslaught, outscoring their opponents with a remarkable 41-20 run in the third quarter. This propelled them to take the lead at 80-78 by the end of the period.

The Tropang Giga continued their relentless performance, overpowering the Road Warriors with a dominant 33-19 run in the final quarter. This remarkable comeback resulted in a staggering 38-point turnaround.

Hollis-Jefferson delivered an outstanding performance, contributing 33 points and 15 rebounds, while Oftana showcased his scoring prowess with 29 points, including five three-pointers. Their exceptional efforts led to a convincing 16-point victory, achieved in the absence of Jayson Castro.

Jewel Ponferrada contributed to the team’s strength and offensive power by scoring 12 points and grabbing five rebounds. Meanwhile, Kim Aurin made valuable contributions by scoring 11 points, including one successful three-pointer.

On the other hand, Chaffee’s performance was limited to only 15 points and 17 rebounds due to an injury sustained on his hand early in the fourth quarter, which resulted in his playing time being cut short.

Herndon and Valdez emerged as the top scorers among the NLEX locals, with Herndon scoring 25 points and Valdez adding 14 points. In contrast, Bolick struggled with a 2-of-8 field goal percentage, resulting in him scoring only eight points.

The scores:

TNT 113 – Hollis-Jefferson 33, Oftana 29, Ponferada 12, Aurin 11, Montalbo 7, Williams 7, Khobuntin 5, Cruz 3, Tolomia 2, Reyes 2, Ganuelas-Rosser 2, Tungcab 0, Heruela 0, Galinato 0.

NLEX 97 – Herndon 25, Chaffee 15, Ganuelas-Rosser 14, Valdez 14, Bolick 9, Nermal 8, Anthony 8, Nieto 2, Marcelo 2, Taulava 0, Rodger 0, Pascual 0.

Quarterscores: 17-26, 39-86, 80-78, 113-97.