MANILA, Philippines — Nonetheless alive and kicking.
The TNT Tropang 5G remained alive within the PBA Philippine Cup Finals after turning the San Miguel Beermen again, 86-78, in Sport 5 Wednesday night on the Good Araneta Coliseum.
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser carried the load for the Tropang 5G with 18 factors and 5 rebounds, to go along with 5 blocks, three steals and an help. Kelly Williams chipped in 14 markers, whereas Calvin Oftana and Jordan Heading had 13 apiece.
Main by as a lot as 15 factors, 51-36, within the third quarter, TNT noticed its lead soften to simply 4, 59-55, early on within the fourth body.
However not like within the earlier video games, the Tropang 5G did sufficient to maintain the Beermen at bay.
They unleashed a 13-0 run capped by an Almond Vosotros layup to seize a 72-55 lead with 8:14 remaining.
Their lead grew to 18, 77-59, with 6:57 remaining after a 3-pointer by Heading.
San Miguel, although, stored itself afloat as they sliced the deficit to eight, 76-84, with 1:24 remaining after a 3-pointer by Jericho Cruz.
However a pair of free throws by Williams, in addition to misses by the Beermen down the stretch, iced the sport in favor of TNT.
The Tropang 5G allowed San Miguel to attain its lowest output within the finals. Earlier than this sport, the Beermen’s lowest rating within the championship spherical was Sport 1’s 96.
The Grand Slam aspiration of TNT, thus, continues to be inside attain. Nevertheless, it would nonetheless be an uphill battle as they path 2-3 within the race-to-4 sequence.
Based on PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III, solely 4 groups have been capable of overcome a 3-1 sequence deficit and win a best-of-seven championship.
These are the 1991 Barangay Ginebra San Miguel squad, the 2006 Purefoods staff, the 2011 Speak ‘N Textual content squad and the 2016 San Miguel Beermen.
RR Pogoy and Almond Vosotros supplied 11 every for TNT.
Jericho Cruz powered San Miguel with 20 factors and 4 rebounds for the Beermen. Marcio Lassiter and June Mar Fajardo had 15 and 13, respectively.
TNT will attempt to tie the sequence up in Sport 6 on Friday, 7:30 p.m., on the PhilSports Area in Pasig Metropolis.
