ANTIPOLO – KJ McDaniels buried a crucial three-point shot late in the game to send TNT to a hard-fought 114-109 victory over San Miguel on Wednesday at the Ynares Center to clinch the twice-to-beat advantage in quarterfinals of the PBA Governors’ Cup.
McDaniels scored 44 points including a triple with 34 seconds left to help the KaTropa regain a 110-108 lead on their way to grabbing the third seed in the quarterfinals where they will meet Magnolia.
McDaniels’ three came after San Miguel import John Holland made a triple with 44.1 seconds left to give the Beermen a 108-107 lead after they came storming back from 18 points down. That lead proved to be short-lived as TNT responded quickly with that three by McDaniels.
San Miguel had a chance to tie the game after June Mar Fajardo was fouled down low but the five-time MVP missed his second free throw, allowing McDaniels to sink two free throws for a 112-109 lead.
McDaniels also made a key stop, deflecting the three-point shot of Holland, leading to two free throws by Ryan Reyes to settle the score.
The loss sent the Beermen to 6-5 to go to fifth spot on a day where the team announced that Arwind Santos, Ronald Tubid, and Kelly Nabong were suspended indefinitely by the team due to a fight during a practice over the weekend.
Troy Rosario also hit key shots for TNT, adding 30 points as the KaTropa arrested a three-game skid with the victory.
Jayson Castro also returned from an injury and finished with 12 points and 11 assists.
“This game is big for us. We came from three straight losses. Grabe ka-importante ‘yung game na ‘to sa amin. Buti na lang, our locals stepped up. Jayson is back. Malaking tulong sa team. Troy played really, really well, everybody played well lalo na ‘yung mga locals,” said TNT coach Bong Ravena.
Rosario scored back-to-back threes, and a putback slam, and McDaniels scored dunks off a miss and a lob pass from RR Pogoy, all part of a highlight-filled 21-10 run in the third quarter that put TNT up, 78-60.
San Miguel closed the gap as an 11-0 run finished by two free throws by Holland trimmed the deficit to one in the fourth period, 96-95. TNT increased its lead to seven, 107-100, until Ross hit a three to come to within two.
Holland topscored for San Miguel with 25 points and converted a three for its only lead of the game, 108-107 only to lose it on a McDaniels triple.
Terrence Romeo had 18 points for San Miguel, which is now one loss away from missing out on its Grand Slam bid as the Beermen face fourth-seed Ginebra.
The scores:
TNT 114 – McDaniels 44, Rosario 30, Pogoy 17, Castro 12, Reyes 5, Parks 4, Washington 2, DiGregorio 0, De Leon 0, Williams 0.
San Miguel 109 – Holland 25, Romeo 18, Ross 16, Lassiter 16, Fajardo 13, Cabagnot 12, Tautuaa 8, Ganuelas-Rosser 1, Pessumal 0.
Quarterscores: 37-25; 53-46; 87-77; 114-109.
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