Jericho Cruz, CJ Perez warmth up late as San Miguel nears return to PBA Philippine Cup throne

Jericho Cruz and CJ Perez plotted San Miguel’s fourth quarter surge because the Beermen carved out a 105-91 win towards injury-riddled TNT in Recreation 4 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals on Sunday on the Mall of Asia Area. 

Cruz waxed scorching from downtown whereas Perez supplied well timed baskets because the Beermen seized a commanding 3-1 sequence result in transfer a victory away from reclaiming the All-Filipino crown. 

Cruz additionally fired three three-pointers within the remaining interval to complete with a team-high 23 factors, laced with three rebounds, one help, and one steal off the bench, whereas Perez posted 16 markers, three boards, 5 dimes, one steal, and one block.

June Mar Fajardo, who just bagged his record-extending 12th Best Player of the Conference award, tallied 15 markers, 12 rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.

“The most important affect is our first recreation — it fuels our grit. You’ll be able to see naman sa mga gamers na on their eyes, makikita mo ‘yung fireplace. They need to win,” San Miguel head coach Leo Austria mentioned.

“We had a nasty begin within the first quarter, however the bench stepped up. They supplied numerous power that was very infectious after which we’re in a position to tie the sport and get the lead and from there, ‘yung power and depth namin ay naging aggressive.”

A sluggish begin abruptly noticed San Miguel taking management of the sport when veteran Marcio Lassiter caught fireplace within the third by unleashing a four-pointer and a triple that prolonged their  result in 62-50.

However TNT, regardless of a skinny roster with Simon Enciso becoming a member of to the harm record, mounted a fierce rampage led by Jordan Heading, whose three three-pointers despatched the Tropang 5G to a 67-64 cushion earlier than the essential fourth interval.

RR Pogoy then joined Heading within the shootout after the previous buried a triple of his personal and accomplished a three-point play that sliced their deficit to 2, 81-79.

Cruz and Perez, although, took it from there. Cruz knocked down a booming triple over Pogoy earlier than Perez escaped the protection of Poy Erram for a layup that made it an 88-79 lead for San Miguel.

Perez and Fajardo sank a pair of freebies every earlier than the previous nailed the dagger three-pointer that pushed San Miguel’s result in 11 with 2:24 left to play, 95-84.

San Miguel, the winningest franchise within the Philippine Cup, now stands on the doorstep of historical past after the victory because the Beermen look to complete TNT on Wednesday. 

A win there would give the Beermen their tenth All-Filipino crown and permit them to reclaim the title they misplaced to Meralco final season.

Scores:

San Miguel 105 – Cruz 23, Perez 16, Fajardo 15, Trollano 11, Lassiter 10, Tiongson 8, Ross 7, Teng 6, Tautuaa 4, Calma 3, Brondial 2, Cahilig 0.

TNT 91 – Heading 23, Williams 14, Ganuelas-Rosser 14, Oftana 11, Pogoy 11, Khobuntin 7, Erram 6, Vosotros 3, Nieto 0, Heruela 0.

Quarters: 21-23, 45-37, 64-67, 105-91.

—JKC, GMA Built-in Information