By Adrian Stewart Co
TNT Tropang Giga made its way back to the finals after ousting San Miguel Beermen, 97-79, in the do-or-die semifinals of the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday night at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
They will face Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots in the best-of-seven championship round series that will commence tomorrow.
Roger Pogoy top-scored with 27 points on Sunday, including four outside conversions, while rookie Mikey Williams added 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists as the Tropang Giga closed out its best-of-seven series with Beermen at 4-2.
Jeth Troy Rosario tallied double-double 12 points and 12 rebounds, Kelly Williams also had a double-double showing of 11 points and 10 rebounds as John Paul Erram chipped in nine points and 11 boards for the TNT.
The Tropang Giga had a flat start and were down by as much as eight points before leaning on the offense of Kelly, Mikey and Rosario in the second period to 45-36 halftime edge.
TNT maintained the double-digit advantage in the third quarter with Pogoy, Mikey and Ryan Reyes converting his shots as the lead widened to 67-53 on a triple by Brian Heruela.
The Beermen trimmed the deficit to within 10 points several times at the onset of the fourth period on inside hits by June Mar Fajardo but dunks by Rosario and a triple by Erram increased Tropang Giga’s lead to 84-67.
Fajardo brought the Beermen to within 15 markers twice before Tropang Giga went for the finishing run on three-pointers by Pogoy and Erram for their largest lead of 97-71 with under two minutes left.
Fajardo finished with double-double 22 points and 16 rebounds, Chris Ross also had double-double 15 points and 11 rebounds as Jaymar Perez contributed 11 points for the Beermen.
BOX SCORE:
TNT 97 – Pogoy 27, M. Williams 20, Rosario 12, K. Williams 11, Erram 9, Reyes 7, Castro 6, Heruela 3, Khobuntin 2, Montalbo 0, Exciminiano 0, Marcelo 0.
SAN MIGUEL 79 – Fajardo 22, Ross 15, Perez 11, Romeo 9, Santos 9, Pessumal 8, Cabagnot 3, Tautuaa 2, Lassiter 0, Sena 0, Zamar 0, Gamalinda 0, Comboy 0.
Quarterscores: 15-23, 45-36, 67-55, 97-79./ASC, WDJ