ANTIPOLO - San Miguel erased an early 16-point deficit with timely lifts from Rodney Brondial and Kris Rosales to beat TNT in Game Five, 96-82, on Friday and move one win away from another PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup title.
Brondial and Rosales became the unlikely heroes of Game Six for the Beermen, who came storming back from a slow start after being down 23-7 in the first quarter.
The Beermen were able to maintain the lead even after June Mar Fajardo got hurt in third quarter.
READ: SMB survives June Mar's injury scare thanks to Brondial, Tautuaa
San Miguel can close out the series in Game Six on Sunday when the finals goes back to the Mall of Asia Arena.
Brondial had 17 points and 15 rebounds in a starting role but made his presence felt in the second quarter where he had eight to slice the gap to one at the half, 48-47.
Rosales had 12 points including five in the third as he conspired with Brondial, Fajardo, Mo Tautuaa, and Marcio Lassiter in the quarter where the Beermen outscored the Tropang 5G, 30-13.
The Beermen later posted their biggest lead at 77-59 in the fourth quarter.
“At the start, we didn’t know what happened but I told them to stay patient. It’s still the first half, said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.
The Beermen bounced back from their Game Four loss where they were beaten by the Tropang 5G, 110-87.
“It was a sign na the hustle was there and the hardwork nandoon,” said Austria on the Game Five win. “Nakita naman natin last game, flat na flat kami and they thought na madaling talunin (ang TNT). But they had a good plan, especially on defense.”
Seven players actually scored in double digits for the Beermen with Fajardo adding 14 points to go along with his 11 rebounds, and Don Trollano dropping 14 points.
Calvin Oftana had 20 points, while Jordan Heading had 13 points, but frustration came to a head in Game Five when Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser fouled out midway in the fourth quarter.
The scores:
San Miguel 96 – Brondial 17, Fajardo 14, Trollano 14, Rosales 12, Tautuaa 11, Lassiter 11, Perez 10, Cruz 5, Ross 2, Cahilig 2.
TNT 82 – Oftana 20, Heading 13, Galinato 11, Nambatac 10, Williams 9, Erram 5, Ganuelas-Rosser 3, Jalalon 3, Enciso 3, Khobuntin 3, Ferrer 2, Aurin 0, Hill 0.
Quarters: 19-29; 47-48; 77-61; 96-82.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
