LIVE UPDATES: San Miguel vs TNT – PBA Philippine Cup Finals, Game 5

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After seizing a pivotal 3-1 lead, San Miguel goes for the kill, while TNT seeks to keep its Grand Slam bid alive in Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup finals

MANILA Philippines – End or extend?

After seizing a pivotal 3-1 lead, San Miguel goes for the kill, while TNT seeks to keep its Grand Slam bid alive in Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup finals at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, July 23.

Thanks to the red-hot shooting of Jericho Cruz, the Beermen notched their third straight win after previously being down 0-1 in the best-of-seven series with a convincing 105-91 Game 4 blowout last Sunday, July 20.

Cruz made it rain from long distance, knocking down 5 of his 7 three-point attempts, to finish with a team-high 23 points for San Miguel.

The flamboyant guard delivered when it mattered most for the Beermen, scattering 15 of those 23 points in the fourth quarter, as they moved on the cusp of the Philippine Cup title. 

As San Miguel tries to close out the series in Game 5, expect a fired up TNT squad on the other side after its team manager Jojo Lastimosa called out Cruz and his teammate Chris Ross for showboating. 

Lastimosa blasted Cruz for being disrespectful after he faked a throw directed at TNT’s Almond Vosotros when the game was already decided, and exchanged words with Ross after he approached the injured Poy Erram following the final buzzer. 

“He’s all arrogance. The guy has problems. I know he has problems and he brings them to the court. There’s no friends here for now,” said Lastimosa of Cruz.

“He’s just acting up He’s just like a little boy. You can quote me on that.”

The 5G, though, will likely be without their top center Erram anew as he suffered a hamstring tear in Game 4 after playing through the ankle injury he sustained in Game 2.  

Game time is 7:30 pm. – Rappler.com