By Adrian Stewart Co

San Miguel Beermen (SMB) stayed alive in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals with a 103-90 victory over TNT Tropang Giga in Game 6 yesterday at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.

Moala Tautuaa top-scored with 24 points, while Marcio Lassiter drilled five triples to finish with 19 markers as the Beermen tied the best-of-seven series at 3-3.

Terrence Romeo contributed 16 points, Arwind Santos ended up with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while June Mar Fajardo had double-double 11 points and 14 rebounds for the SMB.

The Beermen surged to an early 16-7 lead via three straight three-pointers by Lassiter. The Tropang Giga rallied to within 21-25 but SMB increased it to 27-21 after the opening quarter on a late hit by Arwind Santos.

Conversions from Romeo and Tautuaa allowed the Beermen to widen the lead to 46-30 on five straight points by Lassiter. TNT rallied to within 38-48 but back-to-back baskets by Tautuaa widened SMB’s edge to 53-38 at the half.

SMB went on with its rampage in the third period with consecutive triples by Santos and Alex Cabagnot for a 71-47 edge. TNT rallied to within 19 but the Beermen got baskets from Romeo and Perez for its largest lead of 84-58.

The Tropang Giga made its last push in the fourth quarter as they trimmed the deficit to as low as 90-101 before the Beermen secured the victory on a Santos basket.

Jayson Castro and Ryan Reyes finished with 16 points each, while John Paul Erram and Jeth Troy Rosario added 11 and 10 markers, respectively, for the Tropang Giga./ASC, WDJ