Marcio Lassiter drained the game-winning basket as the San Miguel Beermen held off a feisty TNT Tropang Giga, 98-96, in Game 2 of their best-of-seven semifinal series in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday in Bacolor, Pampanga.
With the game knotted at 96-all with six seconds left in the game, the ever-reliable guard drilled the layup as the Beermen tied the series, 1-1.
Lassiter finished with seven points and eight rebounds while Terrence Romeo led the charge with 26 markers, 24 of them in the second half, and four assists.
RR Pogoy had 21 points while Poy Erram and rookie Mikey Williams carved out 21 and 12 markers, respectively, as both teams recorded another close game after an 89-88 TNT win in Game 1.
TNT started hot in the game, posting an early double-digit early in the second period after Pogoy drilled a three-pointer, 40-26. Despite a 19-point outburst by June Mar Fajardo in the first half alone, TNT had a 53-46 lead going into the break.
The wards of head coach Chot Reyes continued making shots in the third with Pogoy and big man Erram combining for four triples to hand the team their biggest lead at 19, 80-61, with barely two minutes left in the frame.
They sealed the third period with an 82-67 upper hand after Erram and Pogoy combined for 18 points in the quarter.
Romeo, who only had two points across his name in the first half, exploded in the second half and helped cut San Miguel's deficit to five in the final frame, 84-79.
He would further trim that lead to only one with an emphatic jumper, 93-92, with 1:24 left to play in the payoff period. TNT then sent Lassiter and Chris Ross to the line as the Beermen took the lead, 96-93.
Troy Rosario found an opening and made his triple to tie the game at 96 apiece, before Lassiter completed San Miguel's comeback in the dying seconds of the game.
TNT and SMB will vie for a series lead come Game 3, scheduled on Friday at 6 p.m.
Scores:
San Miguel Beer 98 - Romeo 26, Fajardo 22, Cabagnot 14, Santos 11, Tautuaa 8, Perez 8, Lassiter 7, Ross 2, Pessumal 0
TNT 96 - Pogoy 21, Erram 20, Rosario 14, M. Williams 12, Marcelo 9, Castro 8, Heruela 5, Montalbo 3, Reyes 2, Khobuntin 2, Exciminano 0
Quarter scores: 23-31, 46-53, 67-82, 98-96
