RONDAE Hollis-Jefferson and TNT came back to life in the second half to escape the ambush attempt of NLEX, 107-102, and take a 1-0 head start in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup quarterfinals Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Held to only 11 in a virtually all-NLEX first half of action, Hollis-Jefferson switched on beast mode and dropped a 34-point barrage in the last 24 minutes as the Tropang Giga wiped out a 13-point deficit with a strong finishing kick.

The prolific import’s 45-point production came with 10 rebounds, seven assists and three steals in a sizzling comeback from his ankle injury-related sit-out of TNT’s non-bearing last assignment in Group A.

“Being an import, you’re going to see a lot of different defenses – them throwing different guys at you, some pressure more than others. So, I think it’s just about me seeing how things are going (and adjusting),” said the one-time Best Import.

“I think I was like one for four, one for five in the first quarter. I still asserted my presence but I didn’t want to overdo it. So, it’s kind of like trying to find that balance and I think that happened as the course of the game went on. And then at the end of the day, it comes down to like willpower, having that extra push, that extra gear because at the end of the day, we all are going to slow down but it’s just kicking it into overdrive.”

RHJ got support from RR Pogoy (13), Jayson Castro (12) and Rey Nambatac (11), who turned in double figure scores for the top quarterfinalist from Group A.

Calvin Oftana, who was initially struggling with a stitched-up lip from the cut he sustained last game, found his groove in the fourth and fired all his eight markers there.

The Gilas Pilipinas mainstay knocked down two booming triples and a clutch layup in the fourth as he joined forces with Hollis-Jefferson in giving TNT a 100-91 cushion with 1:43 left.

“That’s how basketball usually works. You may not have the best first quarter. You may not have the best first half. But if you stay resilient and locked in like he (Oftana) did, it usually works in your favor,” said Hollis-Jefferson.

DeQuan Jones scored 38 against TNT’s defenders to go with 12 rebounds but the meager 10-pointer of NLEX’ top local gunner Robert Bolick a 3-of-8 field goal clip hurt the Group B No. 4 a lot in the opener.

“We knew it’s going to be a difficult series. Our defense was obviously keyed on those two guys. We thought if we could limit one of them, then we’d have a chance of winning,” said Reyes.

TNT will shoot for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five affair Thursday in a road gig in Santa Rosa, Laguna. (OL)

The Scores :
TNT 107 – Hollis-Jefferson 45, Pogoy 13, Castr 12, Nambatac 11, Williams 9, Oftana 8, Khobuntin 7, Erram 7, Aurin 0, Exciminiano 0, Heruela 0.

NLEX 102 – Jones 38, Valdez 11, Amer 11, Bolick 10, Rodger 9, Mocon 8, Miranda 7, Semerad 3, Torres 3, Policarpio 2.

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