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[av_heading heading=’San Miguel Beermen got TNT all figured out ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Thursday, August 3, 2017
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MANILA – San Miguel Beermen renewed its mastery of TNT Katropa last night after defeating the latter 97-91 in a highly emotional PBA Governors’ Cup match at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
June Mar Fajardo led the scoring with 27 while import Wendell McKines added 22 for the Grand Slam-seeking team to move up 2-0.
“Pinaghandaan namin iyan dahil we know, at the back of their (TNT) minds, hindi nila makakalimutan iyong (Commissioner’s Cup Finals loss),” said Beermen head coach Leo Austria. “Alam namin na determinado sila.”
In the first game, defending champion Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings cruised to its second consecutive victory after drubbing the hapless KIA Picanto 120-99.
After being down by as much as 10 points early in the second half, Beermen managed to level the count before surging ahead in the third frame behind hits from Alex Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter.
TNT tried to keep the gap close at the onset of the final quarter but conversions from Lassiter and Fajardo allowed San Miguel to build its largest lead 93-79 on a McKines hit.
If this game was any indication, the bad blood between them during their epic Commissioner’s Cup Finals was still fresh – Katropa’s Roger Pogoy and Beermen’s Chris Ross figured in several skirmishes during the match.
On the other hand, Ginebra waxed hot early behind Justin Brownlee and LA Tenorio for a 22-8 advantage. KIA rallied to within 42-31 but conversions from Gregory Slaughter and Mark Caguioa allowed Kings to build a 58-43 halftime lead.
Second half was all Ginebra, with Slaughter, Brownlee and Caguiao scoring at will en route to build their largest lead 118-85 on conversions by Kevin Ferrer and Ilonggo Juan Paolo Taha.
Brownlee scored 26 while Slaughter added 18 for Ginebra to improve 2-1. KIA Picanto slid to 0-4./PN
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