MANILA – San Miguel Beermen leaned on a massive fourth quarter breakaway to defeat TNT Tropang Giga, 109-100, in Game 2 of the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
From a 79-all score, the Beermen ended the third canto with a triple by Ilonggo Jericho Cruz before continuing in the fourth with inside hits from Vic Manuel and Moala Tautuaa and an outside shot from Marcio Lassiter for a 95-80 lead.
The Tropang Giga responded with a 7-2 run to cut the deficit to 88-97 but a layup by Lassiter, a three-point play by June Mar Fajardo and back-to-back inside hits by Manuel widened the Beermen’s lead to 107-92.
The Tropang Giga made its last push with inside hits from John Paul Erram, Kelly Williams and Jayson Castro to come within 98-107 but a jumper by Lassiter sealed the win for the Beermen.
Jaymar Perez top-scored with 23 points, mostly in the third quarter, while Manuel bounced back from a subpar Game 1 with 20 points and seven rebounds as the Beermen tied the best-of-seven series at 1-1.
Lassiter chipped in 19 markers, Fajardo was limited offensively with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Cruz and Tautuaa ended up with 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the Beermen.
The Tropang Giga opened the game with a 20-14 lead on outside shots by Jeth Troy Rosario but the Beermen quickly turned things around with conversions from Cruz and Manuel for a 30-28 edge.
The Beermen continued its run in the second canto for a 36-31 lead after a Tautuaa dunk but the Tropang Giga tied the score at 36-all before keeping the match close for a 51-all score at the half.
San Miguel Beer opened the third period with inside baskets from Perez for a 65-60 upperhand but the TNT answered back anew for a 79-all deadlock before Cruz uncorked a late three to surge the Beermen ahead, 82-79, after 36 minutes.
Roger Pogoy tallied 28 points but was held scoreless in the fourth quarter, Castro added 15 markers, while Bacolodnon Kib Montalbo, Rosario and Williams had 14, 11 and 10, respectively, for the defending champions TNT.
BOX SCORE:
SAN MIGUEL 109 – Perez 23, Manuel 20, Lassiter 19, Fajardo 13, Cruz 12, Tautuaa 11, Brondial 7, Ross 4, Enciso 0, Zamar 0.
TNT 100 – Pogoy 28, Castro 15, Montalbo 14, Rosario 11, K. Williams 10, M. Williams 7, Erram 7, Reyes 3, Ganuelas-Rosser 3, Khobuntin 2, Marcelo 0.
Quarterscores: 30-28, 51-51, 82-79, 109-100./PN
