PBA: TNT crushes San Miguel to level Philippine Cup Finals, 2-2

The PBA Philippine Cup finals went back to square one after TNT crushed San Miguel, 110-87, in Game 4 on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena. 

The Tropang 5G refused to allow the Beermen to move on cusp of back-to-back titles, waxing hot right from the get-go and never looking back to level the best-of-seven series to 2-2. 

Calvin Oftana was a thorn to San Miguel as the hot-shooting wing dropped 29 points on 5-of-8 shooting from downtown while also grabbing six rebounds, four steals, and one block while Jordan Heading chipped in 17 markers and six dimes. 

TNT's 23-point win spoiled a special night for June Mar Fajardo, who was earlier crowned the Best Player of the Conference for the 13th overall time. Still, the decorated big man posted a double-double outing of 18 points and 16 rebounds. 

"Anytime you come out with a victory like this, it's always a combination of both (defense and offense) but it was very important for us to get our offense on track because the way to beat a team like San Miguel is to make sure you're scoring on them," TNT head coach Chot Reyes said.

"We worked on that. We talked long about that and fortunately, we shot well from the field for the first time in the series."

Offense was definitely a key for TNT with Oftana leading that department early on, dropping 15 of his total output in the first half that saw the Tropang 5G securing a huge 65-40 lead over the Beermen that beat them by just six in Game Three last Sunday. 

Simon Enciso, who finished with eight points, ignited the bench in the third period, drilling two triples to help TNT build an 87–61 cushion entering the payoff period.

TNT then simply held firm in the fourth, with San Miguel unable to mount any resistance.

Don Trollano and CJ Perez supplied the help to Fajardo, posting 13 and 11 points apiece while Mo Tautuaa and Jericho Cruz were both held to nine markers. 

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.

Quarters: 35-18, 65-40, 87-61, 110-87.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News