MANILA – Jaymar Perez stepped up offensively in the fourth quarter as San Miguel Beermen scored a 95-89 victory over TNT Tropang 5G in Game 3 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals last night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Held to just three points in the first three quarters, Perez waxed hot in the fourth with 17, including a four-pointer and a three-point shot late in the fourth quarter, as the Beermen seized a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Celedonio Trollano added 19 markers, June Mar Fajardo posted a double-double of 16 points and 27 rebounds, while Moala Tautuaa and Marcio Lassiter had 14 and 10, respectively, for the Beermen.
San Miguel Beer were on fire early behind conversions from Tautuaa and Jericho Cruz for a 33-19 lead, but the Tropang 5G turned things around in the second frame to seize a 50-44 halftime advantage.
The Tropang 5G went on to take an 11-point edge in the third quarter, but the Beermen leaned on the exploits of Trollano and Fajardo as they trimmed the deficit to 67-72 heading into the final period.
Perez then came alive in the fourth canto with six straight points to surge ahead at 73-72, but the ball game went seesaw from that point, until the Tropang 5G grabbed an 89-86 lead on a triple by Rey Nambatac and a dunk by Henry Galinato Jr.
Perez quickly regained the advantage for the Beermen with a four-pointer before he followed it up with a triple for a 93-89 edge with 12 seconds left. Lassiter sealed the win for SMB with two free throws.
Calvin Oftana paced the Tropang 5G with 25 points, Jordan Heading and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser added 15 markers apiece, and Nambatac contributed 12 points in the defeat.
Game 4 of the series is slated for Wednesday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City./PN
BOX SCORE:
SAN MIGUEL 95 — Perez 20, Trollano 19, Fajardo 16, Tautuaa 14, Lassiter 10, Cruz 8, Teng 4, Brondial 4, Ross 0, Tiongson 0.
TNT 89 — Oftana 25, Ganuelas-Rosser 15, Heading 15, Nambatac 12, Galinato 6, Khobuntin 5, Erram 4, Pogoy 4, Enciso 3, Williams 0, Jalalon 0.
Quarterscores: 33-19, 44-50, 67-72, 95-89.
