MANILA, Philippines — TNT clinched the top seed in its group after clobbering NorthPort, 99-79 in the penultimate playdate of the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup on Sunday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Tropang Giga opted to sit out import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson due to a minot injury, but their all-Filipino crew played well enough to overwhelm the similarly import-less Batang Pier.
TNT closed the double-round eliminations with an 8-2 record to top Group A and will face either NLEX or Blackwater in the crossover quarterfinals.
The Tropang Giga unleashed a 34-19 offensive in the last period to complete their demolition job of the Batang Pier, who finished the conference with a 3-7 card.
Poy Erram led TNT with 17 points and 13 rebounds, Rey Nambatac had 15 and 11 boards, while Roger Pogoy chipped in 14.