GUARD Kim Aurin of defending champion TNT read exactly what NLEX star Robert Bolick had in mind, stole the ball from the backcourt and coasted for a layup on the other end.

While Aurin failed to convert, he drew a foul on Bolick who was livid, convinced he touched nothing but the leather. A challenge raised by NLEX was denied.

Aurin cooly sank two free throws that made it a 91-74 game just before the end of the third canto last Tuesday night.

That play—a classic show of defense to offense—best typified what Tropang Giga coach Chot Reyes said spelled the big difference in his charges’ 3-0 sweep of the Road Warriors in their best-of-5 quarterfinals duel in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

“It’s about playing defense, but it’s also about putting the ball in the hoop. In the quarterfinals, we finally hit some shots. If you will notice, our field goal percentage in the elimination round was very low,” Reyes said. “All of our discussions in our offense in the quarterfinals was to take good shots. I believe all misses are not created equally. We had good shots. We’re not just hitting them.

“That really goes a long way towards helping you win the ball games, but still, we don’t want to take away our focus from the defensive end. That’s still our starting point,” he added.

Reyes spoke after TNT showed NLEX the door with a 125-96 victory in Game 3 and reached the semifinals of the season-opening tilt.

The multi-titled tactician insisted that taking—and making—good shots propped up their Last Eight win over the usually fiery Road Warriors.

“The more good shots we take, the more chances we have of making them,” Reyes said. “I think that’s what happened in the quarterfinals.”

Reigning best import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson dazzled with a game-high 35 points laced with 11 rebounds for the Tropang Giga while Rey Nambatac chipped in 19 markers.

Roger Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, Glenn Khobuntin, and JP Erram also had 18, 11, 11, and 10 points, respectively, as TNT scored a big follow-up to a 109-91 drubbing of NLEX in the second tiff four nights ago.

Reyes’ team will take on the survivor of the Rain or Shine-Magnolia series that will wind up in a sudden death Game 5 set on Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Ginebra has also gained a Last Four slot and will battle the winner of the San Miguel Beer-Converge QF showdown. With a 2-1 lead, the Beermen will try to wrap up the series in the fourth match tomorrow at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

The best-of-7 semis will get going Wednesday next week which Reyes said should serve them in good stead.

“Any chance that we get to rest and recover, especially at this stage, is crucial. I think it’s very, very important. It certainly will be valuable, but it will only be valuable if we make good use of it,” he said.

“There will always be a give and take in resting and being fresh and just losing your edge, so we have to have a real good determination of the quality of our preparation and practices in the next few days.”

A formidable crew like the Tropang Giga armed with sure-fire offense and vaunted defense should pose a really big threat as the conference goes deep.