ANTIPOLO — Defending champions TNT Tropang Giga secured their spot in the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals after a commanding 113-95 win over Rain or Shine on Friday night at the Ynares Center. The victory, powered by star import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, propelled TNT into the championship series for a second straight year.
Hollis-Jefferson delivered a stellar performance with 36 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists, and six steals, leading the Tropang Giga to an unstoppable second-quarter run where they scored 12 unanswered points and never looked back.
“There’s no secret to our game,” said TNT head coach Chot Reyes. “We hang our hats on our ability to stop the other team. When we make stops, we give ourselves a lot of opportunities, and we need those because we don’t shoot particularly well.”
The Tropang Giga now await the winner between San Miguel and Barangay Ginebra for a potential rematch of last year’s Finals. Hollis-Jefferson emphasized that while reaching the Finals is an achievement, the team’s ultimate goal remains winning the championship.
Rain or Shine, despite falling short, is set to finish in 3rd place—its best Governors’ Cup performance since 2018.
The Finals series begins on October 27 at the Ynares Center.