GAME WEDNESDAY
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
7:30 p.m. – SMB vs. TNT
TNT gunner Roger Pogoy boomed in a buzzer-beating four-pointer against San Miguel Beer just before halftime before blowing a flying kiss to the stands last night.
Holding their ground when it mattered most, the Tropang 5G nipped the Beermen 99-96 in Game 1 of their best-of-7 finals duel for the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Pogoy and the Tropang 5G’s guns were silenced in the fourth quarter where SMB nearly completed a dramatic fightback—only for TNT to be saved by a late-game and controversial offensive interference call that nullified a slam dunk conversion by Mo Tautuaa at the 56.1 seconds mark of the fourth—that left the entire Beermen, their coaching staff, and officials charging at the pro league deputy commissioner Eric Castro after the game.
Pogoy sizzled with 23 points, two rebounds, and two assists for the Tropang 5G while Jordan Heading also shone with 19 markers, three boards, and six dimes.
Calvin Oftana and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser also had 13 points each as TNT drew first blood in the race-to-4 battle, with SMB coach Leo Austria admitting they are exploring the possibility of filing a protest before the Commissioner’s Office.
They have until noon today to submit their plea.
The second tiff is set for Wednesday still at the Big Dome.
Reigning eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo carried the fight for the Beermen with 26 points and 15 rebounds while CJ Perez added 19 and 11.
Don Trollano and Tautuaa also combined for 23 markers for SMB.
