SAN Miguel fended off a TNT rally in the fourth quarter to come away with a 108-88 win in Game 3 and a 2-1 lead in the PBA 49th Season Philippine Cup Finals on Friday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
June Mar Fajardo scored a conference-high 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Beermen, who led for most of the second half but had to endure a late charge by a Tropang 5G side that fought valiantly even without injured big man Poy Erram.
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The Beermen’s lead dwindled to seven points, 90-83, but a fiery 18-5 finishing kick cooled down the Tropang 5G and enabled SMB to pick up its second consecutive win for a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven championship series.
Game Four is set on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Chris Ross added 15 points and six assists in a follow-up to his Game 2 heroics where he had seven points and four steals. He also made a three during that final stretch that put the game out of reach, 97-83.
San Miguel coach Leo Austria noted the championship experience of the team showed in the final minutes.
“I think the experience of the players dahil alam nila ‘yung fourth quarter was pivotal, and the killer instinct of the players especially June Mar Fajardo and Chris Ross, they know how to handle the finals. Everybody was inspired,” said Austria.
Jericho Cruz added 13 points and three assists while Cjay Perez had 12 points for SMB.
RR Pogoy had nine of his 16 points in the second quarter, while Calvin Oftana added 15 points and nine rebounds. Almond Vosotros fueled TNT’s comeback bid with 11 of his 14 points in the final quarter.
Oftana made a free throw to cut the lead to seven points, 90-83, but that was the closest TNT got in the match-up.
The scores:
San Miguel 108 – Fajardo 33, Ross 15, Cruz 13, Perez 12, Trollano 10, Tautuaa 9, Brondial 6, Lassiter 6, Rosales 2, Teng 2, Tiongson 0, Calma 0.
TNT 88 – Pogoy 16, Oftana 15, Vosotros 14, Khobuntin 13, Williams 11, Heading 10, Enciso 3, Ganuelas-Rosser 3, Galinato 3, Heruela 0, Varilla 0, Aurin 0.
Quarters: 22-25; 59-52; 86-70; 108-88.
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