TNT overcame a massive fourth-quarter comeback by San Miguel, thanks to a huge break in the end, to take Game One, 99-96, on Sunday in the PBA 49th Season Philippine Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Tropang 5G survived a 19-0 run by the Beermen in the final quarter with timely baskets in a nervy finish, avoiding a major collapse for a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven championship series,
RR Pogoy preserved his first-half effort with a go-ahead three with 1:04 left in his first game back from a hamstring injury, rescuing the Tropang 5G from a major collapse in a game where they led by as many as 21 points.
Controversy, however, marred the final moments of Game One when a dunk by Mo Tautuaa at the final 56.1 second mark that gave the Beermen a one-point lead was ruled an offensive interference after a review with 6.2 seconds left.
WATCH:
The Tropang 5G moved three wins shy of a historic feat of claiming all three titles in a season - an accomplishment not done in over a decade.
Game 2 is scheduled on Wednesday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
A review was made after a deadball situation when Jordan Heading and Chris Ross were forced into a jumpball. With TNT now up by one following the offensive interference call, TNT won the tip, and Calvin Oftana was fouled, and made two free throws.
Cjay Perez missed a triple in SMB’s final possession.
READ PBA refs right to call interference on Tautuaa dunk, says Castro
“We had no illusions that San Miguel will just roll and lay down. We knew that they will mount a fightback. When they were making a run, we kept telling the players to just relax and stay calm,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes.
Pogoy finished with 23 points on 7 of 11 shooting from the field. He also shot 3 of 6 from threes, and was a perfect 2 of 2 from fours after missing four games of the semifinal series against Rain or Shine due to the injury.
READ SMB weighs protest: 'That’s the exact opposite of the right call'
Jordan Heading also delivered for TNT with 19 points on 3-of-6 shooting from threes and 1-of-1 from fours, while also dishing out six assists. Calvin Oftana and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser had 13 points apiece for TNT.
The Beermen outscored the Tropang 5G, 30-14, in the fourth quarter after trailing, 67-43, in the third. June Mar Fajardo had 26 points and 15 rebounds, while Perez added 19 points and 11 rebounds for SMB.
The scores:
TNT 99 – Pogoy 23, Heading 19, Oftana 13, Ganuelas-Rosser 13, Williams 9, Erram 9, Enciso 6, Khobuntin 5, Heruela 2, Aurin 0.
San Miguel 96 – Fajardo 26, Perez 19, Trollano 10, Cruz 8, Lassiter 7, Ross 7, Tiongson 4, Brondial 2, Teng 0, Rosales 0.
Quarters: 28-22; 61-41; 85-66; 99-96.
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