The TNT Tropang Giga took part in Asi Taulava's jersey retirement ceremony at the half then stole the show with a big second-half leading to a 113-97 victory over the NLEX Road Warriors Wednesday night at the PhilSports Arena.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson showed up Stokley Chaffee, and Calvin Oftana had his big-time performance as the Tropang Giga snapped a two-game losing skein and improved to 3-3 at the halfway point of their PBA Season 48 Commissioner's Cup elims campaign.
The Road Warriors dropped to 2-6 as they failed to keep the fire of their strong start and a first-half pull-away in a special game ruined by a fourth straight defeat in the end.
It was a special night for the Road Warriors marked by Robert Bolick debut in an NLEX uniform and Taulava playing a record 24th and final season at age 50.
Together with Chaffee, Rob Herndon, Matt Nieto and Enoch Valdez, Taulava started the game for NLEX, playing one minute and 56 seconds he marked with one defensive rebound.
Sponsored content: Meanwhile, Bolick, a trade acquisition from NorthPort, checked in midway through the opening quarter and helped the Road Warriors to a 58-39 lead at the half and to a spread as big as 22.
But the Tropang Giga came alive in their return from the halftime huddle and spoiled the Taulava/Bolick/NLEX party.
At the resumption of play after the rites for Taulava, Hollis and his teammates uncorked a big 41-20 salvo to seize the lead, 80-78, at the end of the third.
And there's no stopping the Tropang Giga as they also pounced on the Road Warriors, 33-19, in the payoff period to complete a huge 38-point turnaround.
Hollis-Jefferson came through with 33 points and 15 rebounds while Oftana fired 29 markers, including five triples, in their 16-point triumph scored in the absence of Jayson Castro.
Sponsored content: Jewel Ponferrada provided muscles and firepower with 12 points and five rebounds while Kim Aurin played quality minutes, posting 11 points with one three-pointer.
Chaffee was good for only 15 points and 17 rebounds, with his minutes cut short by a cut in his hand sustained early in the fourth quarter.
Herndon and Valdez led the NLEX locals with 25 and 14 as Bolick struggled with a 2-of-8 field clip in an eight-point job. (SB)
