By ADRIAN STEWART CO
MANILA – San Miguel Beermen flipped the switch in the fourth period as they walloped TNT Tropang Giga, 119-97, in the do-or-die Game 7 of the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup Finals last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Down 84-89 after three quarters, the Beermen opened the final quarter with back-to-back inside hits from June Mar Fajardo and Marcio Lassiter before tying the score at 89-all on a split free throw by Fajardo.
The Beermen went on with its run with a layup from Jaymar Perez, a triple by Lassiter, an inside basket by Vic Manuel and five straight points from Perez for a 17-0 run and surge to a 101-89 lead.
Jayson Castro knocked in five straight points for the Tropang Giga to cut the deficit to 94-104 but the Beermen went for the kill on three-pointers by Chris Ross and Fajardo for its largest lead of 119-94.
Perez finished the game with 25 points and seven rebounds, while Finals MVP Fajardo had double-double 19 points and 18 rebounds to go with five assists and two blocks.
The Beermen wrapped up the championship series at 4-3.
Manuel, Lassiter and Tautuaa contributed 16, 15 and 13 markers, respectively, while Ross and Simon Enciso each ended with 12 points as the Beermen reclaimed its first PBA title since 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
“Credit goes to TNT Tropang Giga for making us work hard in this series,” said Beermen head coach Leo Austria. “They pushed us to the limit and also bring out the best from our players.”
The Tropang Giga went on a hot start in the do-or-die Game 7 behind the hot hands of Mikey Williams but the Beermen turned things around in the second period behind Perez, Enciso and Fajardo for a 66-55 halftime lead.
The Tropang Giga even suffered a huge blow late in the second quarter with center John Paul Erram getting tossed out in the game for his flagrant two foul on a hard hit on Beermen’s Tautuaa.
TNT opened the third quarter with triples from Jeth Troy Rosario before Castro took over the scoring for the Tropang Giga with his outside shots and from the free throw line to take an 89-84 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Castro ended with 32 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, while Williams, Roger Pogoy and Rosario chipped in 22, 18 and 11, respectively, for the Tropang Giga, which were without head coach Chot Reyes due to health and safety protocols.
BOX SCORE:
SAN MIGUEL 119 – Perez 25, Fajardo 19, Manuel 16, Lassiter 15, Tautuaa 13, Enciso 12, Ross 12, Cruz 4, Brondial 3, Canete 0, Pessumal 0, Zamar 0, Faundo 0.
TNT 97 – Castro 32, M. Williams 22, Pogoy 18, Rosario 11, Erram 7, K. Williams 6, Marcelo 3, Montalbo 0, Reyes 0, Alejandro 0, Ganuelas-Rosser 0.
Quarterscores: 29-31, 66-55, 84-89, 119-97./PN
