MANILA – TNT Tropang Giga manhandled San Miguel Beermen from start to finish in Game 5 for a 110-90 victory in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals last night at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Jayson Castro top-scored with 19 points. Rookie Mikey Williams and Roger Pogoy added 18 markers apiece, while Jeth Troy Rosario ended up with 17.
Tropang Giga surged to a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. It set the tone early with consecutive triples from Erram, Williams and Bacolodnon Kib Montalbo for a 32-17 lead.
TNT went on with its rampage in the second quarter behind Castro and Ryan Reyes as the lead reached 61-35 at the half.
Early in the third, the Tropang Giga went on to build its largest lead at 70-42 on baskets by Rosario and Pogoy but the Beermen countered with a rally to trim the deficit to 61-81.
San Miguel Beer made its last push in the fourth period at 68-83 but TNT banked on timely two-pointers by Castro and Pogoy and an outside hit by Williams to stretch the lead to 92-71.
For the Beermen, June Mar Fajardo tallied double-double 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Jaymar Perez, Arwind Santos and Terrence Romeo contributed 18, 14 and 12 markers, respectively.
In the first game, Allein Maliksi heated up in the endgame as Meralco Bolts stayed alive in their best-of-seven semifinals series with Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots with a 102-98 Game 5 victory.
With the score tied at 90-all, Maliksi drilled three free throws and a three-pointer to surge the Bolts ahead, 96-90.
The Hotshots rallied to within 93-96 but Maliksi widened Meralco’s advantage to 99-93 with another triple.
Magnolia had its last stand at 98-100 on a triple and an inside hit by Calvin Abueva but Raymond Almazan secured Meralco’s victory with two free throws with seven seconds left.
Maliksi finished the match with 29 points, including seven three-point conversions, Nard John Pinto added career-high 24 points, while Chris Newsome contributed 23 points as the Bolts trimmed the series deficit to 2-3./PN
BOX SCORE:
TNT 110 – Castro 19, Pogoy 18, M. Williams 18, Rosario 17, K. Williams 12, Erram 10, Reyes 6, Montalbo 5, Exciminiano 3, Marcelo 2, Heruela 0, Alejandro 0, Khobuntin 0.
SAN MIGUEL 90 – Fajardo 23, Perez 18, Santos 14, Romeo 12, Tautuaa 10, Lassiter 5, Ross 3, Pessumal 3, Cabagnot 2, Zamar 0, Gamalinda 0, Sena 0.
Quarterscores: 32-17, 61-35, 81-61, 110-90.
