Game Notes: Group A – TNT Tropang Giga (0-1) vs. Chiba Jets (2-0)

November 1, 2023 – Santa Rosa Sports Complex, Laguna, Philippines

‍

Storylines:

1. Rematch of Gameday 1 – How will TNT respond at home?

‍

While TNT limited Jets superstar Yuki Togashi to just two points in Gameday 1, they couldn’t stop the perimeter, allowing Chiba to hit 16 shots from deep. Led by Ren Kanechika coming off the bench, the Jets sniper hit six of 10 from three, finishing with 18 points.

‍

TNT will have to clean up their perimeter defense if they have any shot against one of the heaviest three-point shooting teams in the region.

‍

2. Can Togashi keep up with his heroics?

‍

Togashi has been lighting it up after a dud of a game against TNT in Game 1 on October 11, where he missed all five of his shots and recorded just two points.

‍

In the B.LEAGUE, Togashi has been torching his opponents, averaging 20.7 points in his last seven games, vaulting him up to fourth in the B.LEAGUE scoring race.

‍

In EASL, the Japan National Team captain scored an incredible 38 points against Taipei Fubon Braves on October 18, including an amazing one-legged three to cap a 15-point comeback victory.

‍

How will TNT cool down Captain Togashi’s blazing form in the Philippines?

‍

3. Who can help Rondae Hollis-Jefferson?

‍

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has been a force since joining the defending PBA Governors’ Cup champions in February. The former NBA first-round pick averaged 30.4 points, 13.3 rebounds and 6.6 assists in 16 games to lead TNT to their first PBA Governors’ Cup trophy.

‍

However, Hollis-Jefferson had a poor game in his first taste of EASL action against Chiba in Game 1, scoring 15 points and hitting just six of his 28 shots (21% from the field).

‍

TNT are missing regulars Roger Pogoy and Poy Erram from injury. Mikey Williams and the team are still negotiating for a new contract. Who will step up if Hollis-Jefferson has yet another bad game?

‍

By the Numbers:

‍

TNT Tropang Giga

‍

- 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup:

• 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup Champions
• Elimination Round: 10-1 record, 1^st in PBA
• First on offense: scored 115.9 points per game
• Playoffs: defeated Phoenix Super LPG 132-105 in quarterfinals; defeated Meralco Bolts 3-1 in semifinals; defeated Barangay Ginebra San Miguel 4-2 in Finals

- EASL History:

• 2023 EASL Champions Week: TNT went 0-2, losing to B.LEAGUE side Utsunomiya Brex and KBL side Seoul SK Knights
• 2019 Terrific 12: TNT went 1-1, falling to CBA side Liaoning Flying Leopards and beating B.LEAGUE side Niigata Albirex.

- Team History:

• 9 PBA Championships

• 1998 Centennial, 2003 All-Filipino, 2008-09 Philippine Cup, 2010-11 Philippine Cup, 2011 Commissioner’s, 2011-12 Philippine Cup, 2012-13 Philippine Cup, 2015 Commissioner’s Cup, 2021 Philippine Cup, 2023 Governors’ Cup

• 22 PBA Finals appearances

- EASL 2023-24 Season record: 0-1

• October 11, 2023: 93-75 loss against Chiba Jets

- EASL 2023-24 Season stat leaders:

• Points: Quincy Miller – 22.0 ppg
• Rebounds: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson – 9.0 rpg
• Assists: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson & Kirell Montalbo – 5.0 apg
• Steals: Quincy Miller – 3.0 spg
• Blocks: none

‍

Chiba Jets

‍

- 2022-23 B.LEAGUE season:

• Runners up in 2022-23 B.LEAGUE season
• B.LEAGUE record 53 regular season wins
• Loss just seven games all season
• Embarked on a 24-game winning streak from December 2022 to March 2023
• First on offense: scored 87.9 points per game
• Fifth on defense: conceded 74.8 points per game
• Playoffs: defeated Hiroshima Dragonflies 2-1 in quarterfinals; defeated Alvark Tokyo 2-0 in semifinals; lost to Ryukyu Golden Kings 2-0 in B.LEAGUE Finals

- EASL History:

• 2019 Terrific 12: The Jets went 1-1, beating PBA side Blackwater Elite before losing to KBL side Seoul SK Knights.
• 2018 Terrific 12: The Jets went 0-2, falling to CBA side Guangzhou Loong Lions and KBL side Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus.
• 2017 Super 8: The Jets went 3-0, beating CBA side Zhejiang Guangsha Lions, Chinese Taipei side Taipei Fubon Braves, and KBL side Seoul Samsung Thunders. The Jets beat KBL side Goyang Orions in the semifinals, before beating Zhejiang again to win the 2017 EASL Super 8 tournament.

- Team History:

• 2020-21 B.LEAGUE Champions
• 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023 Emperor’s Cup Champions

- EASL 2023-24 Season record: 2-0

• October 11, 2023: 93-75 win over TNT Tropang Giga
• October 18, 2023: 85-82 win over Taipei Fubon Braves

- EASL 2023-24 Season stat leaders:

• Points: Yuki Togashi – 20.0 ppg
• Rebounds: Ira Brown – 12.0 rpg
• Assists: Yuki Togashi – 5.5 apg
• Steals: D.J. Stephens – 1.5 spg
• Blocks: D.J. Stephens – 2.5 bpg

- B.LEAGUE 2023-24 Season record: 6-3

• October 5, 2023: 80-63 win over Saga Ballooners
• October 7, 2023: 80-79 win over Saga Ballooners
• October 14, 2023: 93-86 win over Sun Rockers Shibuya
• October 15, 2023: 84-82 win over Sun Rockers Shibuya
• October 21, 2023: 89-66 loss against Yokohama B-Corsairs
• October 22, 2023: 88-70 win over Yokohama B-Corsairs
• October 25, 2023: 87-66 loss against Kawasaki Brave Thunders
• October 28, 2023: 79-69 win over Fighting Eagles Nagoya
• October 29, 2023: 88-73 loss against Fighting Eagles Nagoya

- B.LEAGUE 2023-24 Season stat leaders:

• Points: Yuki Togashi – 21.0 ppg
• Rebounds: John Mooney – 10.2 rpg
• Assists: Yuki Togashi – 5.6 apg
• Steals: John Mooney – 1.6 spg
• Blocks: John Mooney – 1.0 bpg

‍

Players to Watch:

‍

TNT Tropang Giga:

‍

#14 Rondae Hollis-Jefferson – SF

- USA NCAA Division 1: Arizona (2013-2015)

• 2015 First Team All-Pac-12; 2015 Pac-12 All-Defensive Team; 2014 Pac-12 All-Freshman Team; NCAA Tournament West Region All-Tournament Team (2015)

- Former NBA player (Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, Portland Trail Blazers)

• 2015 NBA Draft: 1st round, 23rd overall pick – Portland Trail Blazers
• NBA career stats: 9.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg; NBA career-best season: 13.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg (Brooklyn Nets – 2017-18)

- The Philippines (PBA): TNT Tropang Giga

• 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup Champion

• 2023 PBA Governors' Cup Best Import of the Conference

- 2013 McDonald’s All-American; 2013 Jordan Brand Classic

- 2016 5-star high school recruit

- Jordan Men’s National Basketball Team (2023 FIBA World Cup)

- EASL 2023-24 Stats:

• 15.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 5.0 apg, 2.0 spg

#30 Quincy Miller – PF

- USA NCAA Division 1: Baylor (2011-12)

• 2012 NCAA Big 12 All-Rookie Team

- Former NBA player (Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons)

• 2015 NBA Draft: 2nd round, 38th overall pick – Denver Nuggets
• NBA career stats: 4.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg; NBA career-best season: 4.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg (Denver Nuggets – 2013-14)

- Former NBA D-League player (Iowa Energy, Reno Bighorns, Grand Rapids Drive)

• 2015 NBA D-League All-Star

- European Career:

• 2016 All-EuroLeague Second Team (Crvena zvezda)
• 2016 ABA League champion (Crvena zvezda)
• 2016 Serbian League champion (Crvena zvezda)
• 2017 Israeli Cup winner (Maccabi Tel Aviv)

- 2011 Jordan Brand Classic All-American

- 2010 5-star high school recruit

- USA U-18 Men’s National Basketball Team (2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship: Gold)

- EASL 2023-24 Stats:

• 22.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.0 spg

#12 Glenn Khobuntin – SF

- The Philippines - PBA

• 2015 PBA Draft: 10^th overall pick - NLEX Road Warriors
• 2× PBA champion (2021 Philippine Cup, 2023 Governors' Cup)
• 2017 PBA All-Star (NLEX Road Warriors)

- 2014 UAAP champion (National University)

- EASL 2023-24 Stats:

• EASL Stats: 15.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.0 apg

Chiba Jets:

‍

#2 Yuki Togashi – PG

- Former NBA G League Player (Texas Legends)

- Japan (B.LEAGUE): Chiba Jets

• 2019 B.LEAGUE MVP
• 2017 B.LEAGUE All Star Game MVP
• 2x B.LEAGUE Assist Leader (2020, 2022)

• Japan: 2019, 2023 Emporer's Cup MVP

- Japan National Basketball Team Captain (2023 FIBA World Cup: Qualified for Olympic Berth)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:  

• 20.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 5.5 apg

- B.LEAGUE 2023-24 Season stats:

• 21.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 5.6 apg, 1.2 spg

#20 D.J. Stephens – SF

- Former NBA player (Milwaukee Bucks, Memphis Grizzlies)

- European Career:

• 2023 All-EuroCup First Team (Prometey)
• 2× Ukrainian SuperLeague champion (Budivelnyk - 2017, Prometey - 2021)
• Ukrainian SuperLeague Best Five (Prometey - 2021)
• France: Pro A champion (Le Mans - 2018)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:  

• 16.0 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.5 spg, 2.5 bpg

- B.LEAGUE 2023-24 Season stats:

• 13.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.3 spg

#5 Justyn Mutts – PF

- USA NCAA Division 1: High Point (2017-2018), Delaware (2019-2020), Viginia Tech (2020-2023)

• 2022 NCAA ACC Championship
• 2021-22 ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Skip Prosser Award
• 2021-22 Virginia Tech team captain
• 2021 ACC All-Academic Team

- Played 2023 NBA Summer League (Sacramento Kings)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:  

• 15.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.0 spg, 67% FG

- B.LEAGUE 2023-24 Season stats:

• 9.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.2 spg