TNT CLIPS ROS AT WINDUP

Flexing their shot-stopping muscles in the stretch, the Tropang Giga outdueled the Elasto Painters, 88-84, in the opener of their race-to-four PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinal series last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

- OLMIN LEYBA

The Tropang Giga overturned a 79-81 deficit with a 9-3 closeout, forcing their rivals to a slew of missed three-pointers and a couple of costly turnovers while making a pair of big blocks in the last six minutes to get it done.

Fourth-quarter stats showed TNT holding ROS to a meager 19-percent field goal (4-of-21) in the payoff period.

"Our mindset was to make sure that our defense is on point because this was the top scoring team in the quarterfinals. Rain or Shine was averaging 115," said coach Chot Reyes. "We won this not on our offense but with our defense, limiting them to below 90 points."