San Miguel averts 4th-quarter meltdown vs TNT, grabs 2-1 finals lead

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June Mar Fajardo turns in his best scoring performance of the PBA Philippine Cup finals as San Miguel beats TNT for the second game in a row

MANILA, Philippines – San Miguel survived a shaky stretch in the fourth quarter and seized control of the PBA Philippine Cup finals after a 108-88 win over TNT in Game 3 at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, July 18.

The Beermen saw a lead as big as 18 points trimmed to two possessions before they hit their stride down the stretch to grab a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

June Mar Fajardo turned in his best scoring performance of the finals, churning out a game-high 33 points with 11 rebounds and 3 assists as he capitalized on the absence of injured Tropang 5G big man Poy Erram.

It was Fajardo who ended a long scoring drought for the Beermen, who went scoreless for the first five minutes of the final period, allowing TNT to get back in the game.

San Miguel comfortably led 86-70 at the end of the third frame before the Tropang 5G went on a 7-0 rally ignited by seldom-used guard Almond Vosotros to cut their deficit to single digits.

Fajardo gave the Beermen their first field goal of the fourth quarter with a layup with 7:01 minutes left, but TNT pulled within 82-89 off a pair of Calvin Oftana free throws.

However, that was the closest the Tropang 5G got as San Miguel finished the game on a 19-6 blast powered by veteran Chris Ross.

Ross sank a pair of three-pointers in that run and finished with 15 points and 6 rebounds.

Jericho Cruz added 13 points and 3 assists, CJ Perez supplied 12 points and 3 rebounds, while Don Trollano had 10 points and 4 rebounds for the Beermen, who have won the last two games after a controversial Game 1 loss.

Roger Pogoy paced TNT with 16 points.

The Scores

San Miguel 108 – Fajardo 33, Ross 15, Cruz 13, Perez 12, Trollano 10, Tautuaa 9, Lassiter 6, Brondial 6, Rosales 2, Teng 2, Tiongson 0, Calma 0.

TNT 88 – Pogoy 16, Offtana 15, Vosotros 14, Khobuntin 13, Williams 11, Heading 10, Ganuelas-Rosser 3, Enciso 3, Galinato 3, Heruela 0, Variila 0, Aurin 0.

Quarters: 22-25, 59-52, 86-70, 108-88.

– Rappler.com