TNT not fussing over Ginebra assignment after routing NorthPort

Coach Jojo Lastimosa may be excited about TNT’s matchup on Saturday night with Barangay Ginebra, but he is not using it as a gauge to end the business of the PBA Governor’s Cup.

“Being No. 1 or No. 2, it doesn’t matter,” Lastimosa said after Tropang Giga came up short to take the top seed in the quarterfinals with a 134-110 defeat of NorthPort Batang Pier on Wednesday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

“It was great to win against Ginebra. But again, it’s just an elimination game,” he said. “Even if we win against Ginebra, it doesn’t mean we’re going to the playoffs. What I’m trying to say is, it’s just one game. I’m sure this will be a fun game to watch and play, and I’m looking forward to Friday’s game.

TNT remains on top with a 9-1 record (win-loss) in the matchup with a Ginebra squad idling in second place with a score of 8-2 after five consecutive victories.

A loss for TNT in the match will drag Tropang Giga out of the top spot. And even if he will continue to carry his second card to beat in the quarter-finals, the danger will be there.

big difference

The difference between being No. for-beat bonus.

For now, TNT is happy with a victory that can reduce a pair of blows abroad.

Tropang Giga won their first game since suffering an embarrassing loss at the East Asian Super League (EASL) Champions Week in Japan, a result Lastimosa felt would have been avoided if he had imported Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.

Hollis-Jefferson, who dominated NorthPort for 31 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and four steals, did not travel to Japan due to visa issues, forcing TNT to use native import Jalen Hudson to join big man Daniel Ochefu. .

‘miss my defense’

“Our only hope is that if only Rondae is imported, we will be fine. That’s all I can say,” said Lastimosa about the unpleasant experience of dropping the game to B.League outfit Utsunomiya Brex and Korea Basketball League Seoul SK Knights.

Hollis-Jefferson agreed “100 percent wholeheartedly” after seeing action for the first time since February 19 when TNT defeated San Miguel Beer in a putback buzzer-beating by Calvin Oftana.

“I am [saw] if they don’t have the defense and the camaraderie that we’ve built in the three games I’ve been here,” Hollis-Jefferson said.

“I was hit by the key when they said I couldn’t play and they had to bring Jalen back and the injured players. It was a little uncomfortable. I feel like on the defensive end and as a team aspect, I can help.

But with EASL over, Hollis-Jefferson can only see what’s next, and that puts TNT in a position to go deep.

That’s what NorthPort couldn’t do after the loss ended any hopes of staying alive in the quarterfinals.

NorthPort ended the elims at 3-8, falling one win shy of forcing a playoff with Phoenix for the eighth and last seat in the next phase of the conference at the end of the season.

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