San Miguel overpowered a TNT side that had to make do with a thin frontline on the way to a 108-88 victory and build a 2-1 lead in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals, Friday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Beermen overcame a slow start with a 37-point assault in the second term to take the lead for good at 59-52 entering the half, and went on to break away in the final period as they capitalized on Poy Erram’s absence.
Wearing a protective boot, the 36-year-old sat out after a torn ligament was found on his right ankle, which he injured back in Game 2 last Wednesday.
And without him, the Tropang 5G struggled to sustain their good start and get their teeth on defense as their rivals eventually ran roughshod late in the match.
(C) PBA Images
“I think the experience of the players, dahil alam nila na fourth quarter is pivotal,” said head coach Leo Austria on what served as the difference that enabled the crew to take the lead in the series for the first time.
“The killer instinct of the players, especially June Mar Fajardo and Chris Ross, they know how to handle the Finals. This is a very important game.”
June Mar Fajardo starred for San Miguel with a game-high 33 points and 11 rebounds, although he received plenty of support this time.
Chris Ross, for one, went 4-of-7 from three-point distance and finished with 15 points, which he laced with six rebounds and an assist in 29 minutes.
The veteran playmaker knocked down his last from the first arc in the final period, with the first to follow-up Mo Tautua’s three-point play conversion and give themselves a 97-83 lead with 2:54 remaining to fully restore order.
His second and fourth of the match came with only 68 seconds left to play, serving as the killer blow as it inflated their cushion to 16 at 104-88.
Jericho Cruz made 13 points, spiked by a trio of triples. CJ Perez had 12 points albeit on 12 attempts, while Don Trollano chipped in 10 markers.
“Everybody was inspired by what these two guys (Fajardo, Ross) were doing on the court, not only in scoring but in defending,” said Austria.
The Beermen will look to establish a commanding 3-1 lead in the race-to-4 series in Game 4 on Sunday, July 20, 7:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, where the awarding for the BPC will also be held.
(C) PBA Images
Roger Pogoy, meanwhile, led TNT with 16 points as they once struggled not only in shooting but in taking care of the ball after committing 18 turnovers–their most in this Finals after tallying 15 and 17 in Games 1 and 2, respectively.
“We don’t have our top two point guards, so that’s a direct reflection of that–in fact we’ve lost our three point guards because in the past conferences, Rondae was playing point,” said head coach Chot Reyes of their worsening TOs.
Calvin Oftana had 15 points and nine rebounds, while Almond Vosotros supplied 14 on a 5-of-6 clip from the floor–including 4-for-5 from three–as the coaches are trying to find other possible sources of offense for the depleted crew.
“We’re forcing guys [like] Heading to play the point, which is not his natural position. Buti nga, may Almond. Simon Enciso is really just a backup player and Brian Heruela is just a defensive guard. We’re just making do,” he added.
Glenn Khobuntin had 13 points while Kelly Williams and Jordan Heading added 11 and 10 markers, respectively, for the Grand Slam hopefuls.
The Scores:
San Miguel 108 – Fajardo 33, Ross 15, Cruz 13, Perez 12, Trollano 10, Tautuaa 9, Lassiter 6, Brondial 6, Rosales 2, Teng 2, Tiongson 0, Calma 0.
TNT 88 – Pogoy 16, Offtana 15, Vosotros 14, Khobuntin 13, Williams 11, Heading 10, Ganuelas-Rosser 3, Enciso 3, Galinato 3, Heruela 0, Variila 0, Aurin 0.
Quarterscores: 22-25, 59-52, 86-70, 108-88.
