By REYNALD MAGALLON
Jericho Cruz took out his guns in celebration after drilling a booming trey. A few seconds later, he was at it again after drilling a tough stepback deep corner triple.
The veteran winger waxed hot from deep and presided over another fourth quarter breakaway as San Miguel moved on cusp of the Philippine Cup crown with a 105-91 victory over TNT in Game 4 at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, July 20.
Cruz finished with 23 points – built on five triples, none bigger than his last two that triggered a telling 14-5 run in the last six minutes to help the Beermen come one win away from reclaiming the crown it lost against the Meralco Bolts last season and foiling the Tropang 5Gs bid for the rare Grand Slam feat.
San Miguel was only holding on to a precarious 78-77 lead before Cruz cashed in the back-to-back triples, June Mar Fajardo took care of his free throws and CJ Perez soared for a layup to erect a 92-82 lead over TNT.
The Beermen only traded baskets with the Tropang 5G from there to seize a commanding 3-1 lead and a chance to finish off the series in Game 5 when it heads back to the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, July 23.
Fajardo, fresh off winning his record-extending 12th Best Player of the Conference award, had a double-double 15 points and 11 rebounds while his runner-up Perez added 16 points.
Don Trollano added 12 and Marcio Lassiter with 10 for SMB which bucked a slow start that saw TNT jump on an early 12-point lead. The Beermen were still trailing at the end of three quarters, 64-67, but exploded for 41 in the final frame against the Tropang 5G’s only 24.
Five players scored in double figures for TNT but everything went down the drain as the team’s injury woes seemed to be too much to overcome.
While Poy Erram managed to play through a high ankle sprain, another player in Simon Enciso, who sustained an orbital fracture, went down for TNT.
Jordan Heading tried to make up for it with 23 points while practically having little help in manning the point.
The 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
