By Adrian Stewart Co
They may have won Game 1 of their semifinals series against San Miguel Beer, but the TNT Tropang Giga have yet to solve the problem posed by June Mar Fajardo.
Ahead of their best-of-seven semis series in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup, TNT head coach Chot Reyes recalled that San Miguel dominated in their lone elimination round meeting, taking an 83-67 triumph.
In Game 1 of the semis on Sunday night at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga, TNT nearly squandered a late lead and needed a massive defensive stop in the closing seconds to come away with an 89-88 victory and a 1-0 series lead.
“I think, (it’s an) A for effort,” said Tropang Giga head coach Vincent “Chot” Reyes of his team’s performance. “Certainly, a lot to improve on.”
Holding to an 89-88 advantage in the final nine seconds of the game, Tropang Giga center John Paul Erram foiled the game-winning attempt of Beermen’s Marcio Lassiter to secure TNT’s series-opener win.
Erram finished the match with 15 points, while Roger Pogoy led the Tropang Giga offense with 23 markers, while Jayson Castro and Jeth Troy Rosario added 16 and 14 markers, respectively.
“Sobrang hirap. Kailangan talaga A-game para talunin ang San Miguel Beer,” said Pogoy, who also has three rebounds, two assists and two steals on his Game 1 contributions.
TNT was actually ahead 81-71 with over six minutes in the game but a furious San Miguel Beer uprising trimmed the deficit to 79-81 before Castro drilled a three-pointer to give Tropang Giga a breathing room at 84-79.
The Beermen rallied to within one point twice but baskets from Pogoy and Erram widened Tropang Giga’s lead to 89-84. Jaymar Perez, however, connected two layups to pull the San Miguel Beer to within 88-89 with 36 seconds left.
Perez finished the game with 23 points, Fajardo added double-double 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Arwind Santos and Lassiter contributed 12 and 10 points, for the Beermen.
BOX SCORE:
TNT 89 – Pogoy 23, Castro 16, Erram 15, Rosario 14, M. Williams 7, Montalbo 5, Khobuntin 4, Marcelo 3, Reyes 2, Heruela 0.
SAN MIGUEL 88 – Perez 23, Fajardo 13, Santos 12, Lassiter 10, Cabagnot 8, Ross 8, Romeo 8, Tautuaa 6, Gamalinda 0.
Quarterscores: 19-17, 42-41, 71-60, 89-88./ASC, WDJ