TNT demolishes SMB in Game 4, ties PBA Ph Cup Finals

Sports

IT’S back to square one.

The TNT Tropang 5G bounced back from a disheartening loss in Game 3, manhandling the powerhouse San Miguel Beermen, 110-87, in Game 4 of the 50th PBA Philippine Cup Finals on Tuesday night, Jan. 27, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The first three games of the series saw the two squads battle tooth-and-nail. TNT flipped the script by coming up with a surprising lopsided victory in Game 4 to tie the best-of-seven series at two games apiece.

TNT won Game 1, 96-91, before San Miguel took Games 2 and 3 with scores of 111-92 and 95-89, respectively.

Game 4 was only close in the opening minutes. The Beermen had a 6-4 lead when the Tropa racked up 13 unanswered points to build an 11-point cushion.

It was all TNT from that point on, ending the first quarter with a 35-18 lead before stretching the advantage to 25 at the half, 65-40. The Tropa would go on to lead by as many as 35 points in the second half to ice the victory.

Calvin Oftana led the Tropa with 29 points while Jordan Heading and Rey Nambatac chipped in 17 and 13, respectively.

June Mar Fajardo topped the Beermen with 18 markers. Don Trollano scored just 13 markers while CJ Perez was held down to just 11 markers.

THE SCORES:

TNT (110) – Oftana 29, Heading 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.(CCM)