MANILA, Philippines – In the second half, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and TNT overcame NLEX’s attempted attack, winning 107-102 and securing a 1-0 lead in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

After being held to just 11 points in an almost entirely NLEX-dominated first half of play, Hollis-Jefferson went into beast mode and scored 34 points in the final 24 minutes to help the Tropang Giga erase a 13-point deficit with a potent final shot.

With 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals in a stunning comeback after his ankle injury-related sitout of TNT’s meaningless last Group A game, the prolific foreigner scored 45 points.

The player, an experienced import, understood that one aspect of the problem is dealing with different defensive tactics. When facing imports, opposing teams frequently switch up their defense, with some defenders exerting more pressure than others. According to him, the secret to success is to read the defense, react appropriately, and adjust to these situations as they arise. His knowledge of the game and experience allow him to adjust and maintain composure under duress.

In retrospect, he acknowledged that he had gotten off to a bad start, going just one for four or one for five in the opening frame. He didn’t push the matter, though; instead, he maintained his composure and made his presence on the court known. Finding balance—knowing when to push and when to pull back—was something he stressed. He eventually managed to become comfortable with the game, making the required changes as it went along.

In the end, he made the point that willpower is frequently the key to success. He feels that it’s critical for players to find that extra gear and keep going when they start to become tired. He believes that what differentiates excellent players from great ones is the ability to find that additional drive and push past restrictions. His effectiveness in high-pressure situations can be attributed to his emphasis on mental toughness and resilience.

Hollis-Jefferson emphasized how erratic basketball can be and how a sluggish start does not always mean the end of the game. Resilience and focus, he said, may turn around a player who may not have performed well in the first quarter or even the first half. Hollis-Jefferson cited Oftana as an illustration of how mental fortitude combined with persistent effort can produce positive results. His words highlight the value of tenacity and stress that, even after a difficult beginning, keeping a positive outlook frequently leads to success in the later stages of the game.

DeQuan Jones scored 38 points and pulled down 12 rebounds against TNT’s defense, but the NLEX’s best local shooter Robert Bolick’s paltry 10-point effort on a 3-of-8 field goal clip severely harmed the Group B No. 4 in the first game.

Reyes stated that his team was fully aware of the challenges they would encounter, despite the series’ acknowledged difficulties. The main goal of their defensive approach was to keep two of the other team’s star players in check. Reyes thought their chances of winning the game would significantly increase if they could effectively restrict the impact of at least one of these guys. The team’s preparation and awareness of their opponent’s advantages were evident in their focused strategy.

This strategy was successfully carried out by TNT’s defense, giving them a vital win and placing them in a solid position going into the following match. They had the advantage they needed to win since they were able to neutralize one of the star players for the opposition. Reyes and his group are committed to sticking to their game plan as the series goes on, especially when it comes to defense.

TNT hopes to gain momentum going into Game 2 of the best-of-five series on Thursday, where they currently have a 1-0 lead. The club hopes to increase their lead to 2-0 in this important road encounter against Santa Rosa, Laguna. TNT’s defense and capacity to contain the opposition’s star players will probably continue to be crucial components of their success as the series progresses.

Scores at the end of the match

TNT with 107 points for the win

NLEX 102 points

Scores per quarter

24-29, 41-49, 73-71, 107-102