SAN Miguel Beer guard Jericho Cruz grabbed a defensive rebound over the taller TNT big man Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser late in the fourth quarter that he let everyone known after a thundering scream on Wednesday night.
Showing better endgame poise this time, the Beermen got back at the Grand Slam-seeking Tropang 5G, carving out a 98-92 victory in Game 2 of their best-of-7 finals showdown for the PBA Philippine Cup crown at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
GAME FRIDAY
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
7:30 p.m. – TNT vs. SMB
Cruz’s big board came at the 5:57 mark and after two crucial three-point misses from the usually steady TNT gunners Calvin Oftana and Roger Pogoy and SMB protecting an 87-80 buffer.
Don Trollano showed the way for the Beermen with 22 points and six rebounds while reigning eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo was a rebound shy of a double-double with 17 markers and nine caroms, on top of three assists.
Mo Tautuaa and Jeron Teng also had 16 and 10 points, respectively as SMB redeemed itself from a controversial 96-99 loss to the Tropang 5G in the finals opener last Sunday.
With the race-to-4 series knotted at 1-1, the third tiff is set Friday also at the same venue.
Calvin Oftana carried the fight for TNT with 23 points and seven rebounds but was held scoreless in the final period while Jordan Heading, Kelly Williams, and Ganuelas-Rosser had 15, 11, and 10 markers, respectively.
