TNT made sure there won't be a miracle comeback for San Miguel Beer this time.
The Tropang 5G buried the Beermen behind an avalanche of baskets from long distance to hack out a runaway payback, 110-87, that leveled the PBA Philippine Cup Finals at 2-2 on Wednesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Calvin Oftana came out with guns blazing and fired 29 points on 5-of-8 shooting from three-point range, where TNT shot a high 45 percent on the way to the most lopsided victory in the best-of-seven championship series.
READ RR Pogoy reinjures hamstring in Game Four
The 23-point blowout came just a few nights after CJ Perez led an improbable San Miguel comeback in the final 47 seconds of Game Three for a 95-89 victory.
“The only thing we wrote in the board before the game was No. 48 because that’s the way to beat a team like this, to play good basketball for 48 minutes. Last game, we played for 36 minutes and we lost in the end,” said coach Chot Reyes of how TNT willed itself back into the series after that heartbreaker of a loss against SMB the last time.
Jordan Heading added 17 points and showed a portent of things to come when he buried a long shot from beyond the half court at the end of the first quarter that put TNT ahead, 35-17.
Rey Nambatac added 13, while Simon Enciso, Kelly Williams, Glenn Khobuntin, and Roger Pogoy – prior to re-injuring his hamstring in the second quarter – were a combined 8-of-13 from three-point range for TNT.
TNT won the most lopsided game in finals history, according to chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III as its victory was also its biggest margin since a 99-72 rout of Barangay Ginebra in Game 5 of the Season 49 Governors’ Cup.
The Tropang 5G had their biggest lead at 82-47 in the third period.
In contrast, it was the worst loss for San Miguel since a 130-100 setback to Barangay Ginebra in the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup.
Fresh from winning his 13th Best Player of the Conference award, June Mar Fajardo had his regular double-double for San Miguel with 18 points and 16 rebounds, while Don Trollano finished with 13.
Perez was held by TNT’s defense to 4-of-15 shooting for 11 points.
The scores
TNT (110) - Oftana 29, Heaqding 17, Nambatac 13, Williams 8, Enciso 8, Ganuelas-Rosser 7, Galinato 6, Khobuntin 6, Pogoy 6, Aurin 4, Jalalon 2, Ferrer 2, Erram 2, Nieto 0, Hill 0.
San Miguel (87) - Fajardo 18, Trollano 13, Perez 11, Tautuaa 9, Cruz 9, Cahilig 8, Rosales 4, Miller 4, Tiongson 3, Calma 3, Teng 3, Brondial 2, Mantua 0, Lassiter 0, Ross 0.
Quarterscores: 35-18; 65-40; 87-61; 110-87.
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.
