Unfazed by Game 3 loss, TNT crushes San Miguel to level PBA finals

MANILA, Philippines – Refusing to dwell on a win that slipped out of its hands, TNT rebounded in the most convincing way possible.

The Tropang 5G leveled the PBA Philippine Cup finals at 2-2 following an emphatic 110-87 drubbing of defending champion San Miguel in Game 4 at the Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday, January 28.

Calvin Oftana turned in a conference-high 29 points with 6 rebounds and 4 steals as TNT rode a sizzling start and bounced back from a stinging Game 3 loss that saw it squander a late lead.

“That’s how sports is. I said let’s put this behind us,” Tropang 5G head coach Chot Reyes said of their Game 3 defeat. “All we can do is just move on, go to the next, and fortunately, the players responded.” 

Game 3 had looked like in the bag for TNT after it grabbed an 89-86 lead with under a minute remaining before Beermen guard CJ Perez took over and fueled a tide-turning 9-0 finishing run that left the Tropang 5G stunned.

Perez scored 7 points in a 30-second span as he sank a four-pointer and a three-pointer in succession, allowing the Beermen to escape with the win. 

“Those were not open looks. It’s a basketball truism — great offense will always beat great defense. I thought we played great defense but CJ made a couple of super plays and there’s nothing you can do but tip your hat,” said Reyes.

But there were blown leads in Game 4 as TNT built a sizable 35-18 cushion at the end of the opening quarter and widened the gap to as big as 35 points, 82-47, en route to the most lopsided win of the series. 

Jordan Heading set the tone for the Tropang 5G as he scattered 11 of his 17 points in the first frame, including a four-pointer buzzer beater from beyond the half-court line. 

That splendid start allowed TNT to cruise the rest of the way despite the second-quarter exit of team captain Roger Pogoy, who aggravated the hamstring injury that kept him out of the first two games of the best-of-seven affair. 

“To be honest, Roger should not be playing. He just fought through it,” said Reyes.

“His hamstring is not yet fully healed. It doesn’t look good. But we’re already here, we put ourselves in position. We just continue trying.” 

The loss spoiled the Best Player of the Conference coronation of June Mar Fajardo, who led San Miguel with 18 points, 16 rebounds, and 2 steals.

Perez struggled to replicate his Game 3 performance as he produced just 11 points on a paltry 4-of-15 shooting to go with 4 assists against 4 turnovers. – Rappler.com