MANILA – San Miguel Beermen managed to foil the comeback try of TNT Tropang Giga for a 91-89 victory in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Leading by as much as 15 points in the first half, the Beermen were threatened by a furious fourth quarter uprising by the Tropang Giga as they deficit was cut to 89-90 on a split free throw by Kelly Williams.
Ilonggo Jericho Cruz also split his free throws to make it a 91-89 Beermen lead before Tropang Giga’s Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser missed on a three-point attempt at the buzzer.
“It was our defense (that saved us) in the last three minutes,” said Beermen head coach Jorge Gallent. “That’s what I would tell them, if we cannot score let’s make bawi on defense.”
June Mar Fajardo tallied a double-double of 15 points and 17 rebounds, while Cruz, Marcio Lassiter and Celedonio Trollano ended with 12 markers apiece as the Beermen improved to 2-0.
Jayson Castro finished with 20 points to lead the way for the Tropang Giga, Roger Pogoy added 15 markers, Williams and Calvin Oftana had 12 points each, and Kim Aurin ended with 10 points. They dropped to 2-2.
Meanwhile, Juan Miguel Tiongson converted a go-ahead three-pointer as Terrafirma Dyip scored a 92-91 victory over Blackwater Bossing over at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Down by as much as 19 points early in the third quarter, the Dyip slowly clawed their way back until they secured an 89-88 lead on back-to-back conversions from George Isaac Go and Javi Gomez de Liano.
Free throws by RK Ilagan and Rey Nambatac allowed the Bossing to regain the lead at 91-89, but a booming three-pointer from Tiongson with 12 seconds left gave the Dyip the lead for good.
Tiongson finished the game with 20 points, including two three-point conversions, to go with six rebounds and three assists as the Dyip snapped its two-game losing skid to improve to 3-2./PN
BOX SCORE:
SAN MIGUEL 91 – Fajardo 15, Lassiter 12, Trollano 12, Cruz 12, Romeo 9, Enciso 9, Perez 9, Ross 6, Teng 5, Tautuaa 2, Brondial 0.
TNT 89 – Castro 20, Pogoy 15, Oftana 14, Williams 14, Aurin 10, Heruela 4, B. Ganuelas-Rosser 4, Ebona 4, Khobuntin 2, Ponferrada 2, Reyes 0, Varilla 0, Montalbo 0, M. Ganuelas-Rosser 0.
Quarterscores: 25-23, 52-39, 72-70, 91-89.
