TNT outduels San Miguel in Game 7, sets up finals series against Magnolia

The 2021 PBA Philippine Cup finals series is now set.

Only two teams are left vying for the title of the new All-Filipino champions after the TNT Tropang Giga stunned the San Miguel Beermen, 97-79, in Game 7 of their best-of-seven series on Sunday in Pampanga.

RR Pogoy scored a game-high 27 points to lead TNT while rookie Mikey Williams added 20 in the do-or-die contest.

Troy Rosario and Kelly Williams both had double-doubles for the Tropang Giga with Rosario posting 12 points and 12 rebounds and Williams chipping in with 11 points — all in the first half — and 10 boards.

After falling behind by eight, 23-15, at the end of the first period, TNT took control of the game with a huge second quarter where they outscored SMB, 30-13.

The Tropang Giga built on that in the second half and set its biggest lead of the game at 26 points, 97-71, after an 11-0 run from RR Pogoy and Poy Erram past the halfway mark of the final period.

June Mar Fajardo had a huge game for San Miguel, notching 22 points and 16 rebounds in the loss. His team, though, struggled to get its offense going, shooting 32% from the field and 25% from three.

TNT, meanwhile, will be back on the finals stage for the second consecutive season and will hope to reverse last season's outcome after falling to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, the team they dethroned in the quarterfinals of the season.

The squad mentored by Chot Reyes won the odd-numbered games of the series, while SMB took Games 2, 4, and 6.

The Tropang Giga will face the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok in the best-of-seven finals which is expected to start on Wednesday.

The scores:

TNT 97 – Pogoy 27, M. Williams 20, Rosario 12, K. Williams 11, Erram 9, Reyes 7, Castro 6, Heruela 3, Khobuntin 2, Exciminiano 0, Marcelo 0, Montalbo 0.

San Miguel – Fajardo 22, Ross 15, Perez 11, Romeo 9, Santos 9, Pessumal 8, Cabagnot 3, Tautuaa 2, Lassiter 0, Zamar 0, Comboy 0, Gamalinda 0, Sena 0.

Quarterscores: 15-23, 45-36, 67-55, 97-79.

—JMB, GMA News