San Miguel Beer unleashed a furious start and never looked back to beat TNT, 116-90, Sunday, Oct. 10 and tie their best-of-seven semifinal series at 2-2 in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Don Honorio Ventura State University in Bacolor, Pampanga.
After spending the first three games falling behind by big margins, the Beermen turned the tables on the Tropang Giga that set the stage for the most lopsided result since the series began.
Mo Tautuaa imposed his will against the TNT frontcourt with 19 of his 25 points in the first half Terrence Romeo, June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, Arwind Santos, CJ Perez, Chris Ross and Alex Cabagnot were also key in SMB’s triumph.
The Beermen also gave the Tropang Giga a frustrating afternoon with both Troy Rosario and Poy Erram dealing with foul trouble.
Erram would later be sent to the hospital for observation after his head hit the floor while he and Tautuaa were scrambling for the loose ball in the second quarter.
RR Pogoy, TNT’s top semis scorer at 23.3 points, was held to just two points on 1-of-10 shooting while Mikey Williams struggled anew with a 3-of-12 shooting despite 11 points while turning the ball over six times.
The one-sided contest which saw SMB lead by a high of 37, reduced the series to a best-of-three going into the pivotal Game 5 tentatively set Wednesday, Oct. 13.
“In the past few games namin (of ours) against TNT, it was always in a catch-up situation. But we want to have this good start, which happened today,” said SMB coach Leo Austria.
Eight straight points by Tautuaa, some of which resulted in Rosario and Erram getting into quick fouls, enabled SMB to take a 24-12 lead late in the opening period.
Back-to-back threes from Santos to begin the second put SMB on top 32-14, triggering a big pull away that made TNT feel clueless as to what hit them.
The half ended at 57-32 but SMB continued to balloon its lead to 81-44 on Lassiter’s trifecta, 4:30 left in the third.
Jayson Castro finished with 15 points and four assists for the Tropang Giga.
The scores:
SAN MIGUEL 116 — Tautuaa 25, Romeo 16, Fajardo 13, Lassiter 13, Cabagnot 12, Santos 11, Perez 10, Ross 7, Pessumal 4, Zamar 3, Gamalinda 2, Gotladera 0.
TNT 90 — Castro 15, Khobuntin 13, M.Williams 11, Rosario 10, Exciminiano 8, Mendoza 6, Heruela 5, Montalbo 4, Alejandro 4, Javier 4, Erram 3, Marcelo 3, Reyes 2, Pogoy 2.
Quarters: 26-14, 57-32, 91-61, 116-90.
