By REYNALD MAGALLON
San Miguel put together a scintillating third quarter performance and then endured a stretch of scoring drought in the fourth to essay a 108-88 victory in Game 3 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday, July 18.
June Mar Fajardo towered over a depleted and foul-plagued Tropang 5G frontline as he presided over the huge third quarter run to build an 18-point advantage – enough to weather the Beermen’s five-minute dry spell in the fourth.
SMB was actually held scoreless for seven minutes, bridging the last two quarters, allowing TNT to come within seven, 89-82, with six minutes left.
That, however, was the closest the Tropa could get as the Beermen regained their footing behind a searing 18-4 rally in the waning minutes to finally pull away for good.
Fajardo dominated the paint and posted 33 points on top of 11 rebounds while Chris Ross, who delivered two big triples to help SMB restore order, added 15 points and six rebounds.
Jericho Cruz added 13 points — 12 of which came in the first half — while CJ Perez, after missing his first six attempts from the field, finished with 12.
“I think the experience of the players dahil alam nila ‘yung fourth quarter was pivotal, and the killer instinct of the players especially June Mar Fajardo and Chris Ross, they know how to handle the finals. Everybody was inspired,” said SMB head coach Leo Austria.
RR Pogoy paced TNT with 16 while Calvin Oftana had 15. Almond Vosotros tried to inject life to the Tropang 5G after firing 11 of his 15 points in the final frame only to fall short in the end.
The Tropang 5G found no answer to Fajardo with Kelly Williams, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Henry Galinato all saddled with foul trouble while JP Erram missed the game due to a sprained knee.
Curiously at the sidelines, deputy commissioner Eric Castro and supervisor of officials Bong Pascual were not on their usual stations. According to PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, the two were in attendance albeit they did their job as part of the technical committee away from public eye.
The two were put in hot water over the backlash brought by the controversial reversal of Mo Tautuaa basket in Game 1 of the series.
The scores:
San Miguel 108 – Fajardo 33, Ross 15, Cruz 13, Perez 12, Trollano 10, Tautuaa 9, Brondial 6, Lassiter 6, Rosales 2, Teng 2, Tiongson 0, Calma 0.
TNT 88 – Pogoy 16, Oftana 15, Vosotros 14, Khobuntin 13, Williams 11, Heading 10, Enciso 3, Ganuelas-Rosser 3, Galinato 3, Heruela 0, Varilla 0, Aurin 0.
Quarters: 22-25; 59-52; 86-70; 108-88.
