TNT rebounded from the heartbreaking loss it suffered the last time out with a brutal 110-87 beatdown of San Miguel to even things out in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals, Wednesday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
In a solid turnaround from their Game 3 collapse last Sunday, the Tropang 5G quickly took the lead early with a 13-0 assault to build a 17-6 start before concluding the match’s first 12 minutes with a commanding 35-18 lead.
The pounding continued in the ensuing period and the crew of Coach Chot Reyes would head into the break with a 65-40 advantage, turning Game 4 into a snoozefest as the Beermen couldn’t come up with any solution whatsoever.
So lopsided was the match that TNT led by as many as 35 points, eventually reducing the series to a virtual best-of-3 as both teams are now tied at 2-2.
CJ Oftana led the way with 29 points, thanks to a 5-of-8 clip from three-point distance, alongside six rebounds, four steals, and a block.
Jordan Heading came through with 17 points, highlighted by a heave from beyond halfcourt to beat the first-quarter buzzer. He also had six assists.
Rey Nambatac supplied 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists, with Kelly Williams and Simon Enciso chipping in eight markers apiece as a total of 12 players scored at least two points in the dominant victory.
The win, however, came at a cost after Roger Pogoy appeared to have reinjured his hamstring at the 10:40-mark of the second, never to be brought back.
