By ADRIAN STEWART CO
MANILA – Jayson Castro had a vintage showing as TNT Tropang Giga cruised to a 100-87 beating of the San Miguel Beermen in Game 4 of the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup Finals last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After seeing their double-digit lead in the first half turned to a 52-51 deficit early in the third period, Castro carried the Tropang Giga on his shoulders with six straight points followed by hits by John Paul Erram and Kelly Williams for a 63-56 spread.
The Beermen rallied to within five points after a hit by Jaymar Perez but Castro along with Roger Pogoy and Matthew Ganuelas-Rosser scored from the inside as the Tropang Giga erected a 72-63 advantage.
TNT’s lead went up to double-digits at the onset of the fourth period after back-to-back hits by Pogoy and Erram but the Beermen made its last push at 67-75 on three free throws by Marcio Lassiter.
But a three-point play by Williams followed by back-to-back hits by Castro and a triple by Glenn Khobuntin widened the Tropang Giga’s lead to 85-71 before widening it to its largest at 96-78 via another Castro layup.
Castro finished the game with 26 points to go with six rebounds, four assists and three steals as the defending champions Tropang Giga tied the best-of-seven finals series at 2-2.
Pogoy chipped in 21 markers despite only hitting two outside shots, Mikey Williams chipped in 15 points, including 11 in the first half, while Kelly Williams ended with 14 points for TNT.
The Tropang Giga had a rousing start in Game 4 as they cruised to an 18-9 start in the first quarter behind Mikey before widening its double-digits in the second period behind consecutive points from Castro.
The Beermen, however, charged back late in the second quarter and at the start to third quarter behind inside baskets from June Mar Fajardo before eventually taking a slim 52-51 advantage.
Fajardo had double-double 20 points and 19 rebounds, Simon Enciso and Lassiter chipped in 15 and 14 markers, respectively, while Perez and Moala Tautuaa had 13 each for the Beermen.
BOX SCORE:
TNT 100 – Castro 26, Pogoy 21, M. Williams 15, K. Williams 14, Erram 8, Khobuntin 7, Montalbo 3, Marcelo 2, Rosario 2, Ganuelas-Rosser 2, Reyes 0, Alejandro 0.
SAN MIGUEL 87 – Fajardo 20, Enciso 15, Lassiter 14, Perez 13, Tautuaa 13, Cruz 6, Brondial 3, Ross 2, Manuel 1, Herndon 0, Zamar 0, Pessumal 0.
Quarterscores: 18-9, 43-36, 72-63, 100-87./PN
