Beermen get back at Tropang 5G in Game 2 to equalize PBA finals series

MANILA, Philippines -- All knotted up.

The San Miguel Beermen surged by as much as 24 points and held on to turn back the TNT Tropang 5G, 111-92, and tie the PBA Philippine Cup Finals at one game apiece Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The Tropang 5G tried to storm back multiple times in the game, but the Beermen were able to keep them at bay.

Don Trollano bounced back from a four-point performance in Game 1 with 22 points this time around, to go with four rebounds and an assist. June Mar Fajardo chipped in 17 markers and 16 boards.

The Beermen started off the game waxing hot, turning a 44-33 lead in the second quarter to a 24-point separation, 57-33, at the half.

TNT, though, slowly turned things around in the second half, cutting the deficit to just 10, 65-75, early on in the fourth.

But a backbreaking 15-2 run capped by a layup by Fajardo broke the game wide open anew, 90-67, with 5:27 left.

Kevin Ferrer, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Jio Jalalon tried to push for a late rally, slicing the deficit to just 10 anew, 87-97, but Marcio Lassiter, Jericho Cruz, Fajardo and Trollano slammed the door shut.

Mo Tautuaa and CJ Perez had 14 and 13 markers for the winning team, respectively, while Lassiter and Cruz had 12 each.

Rey Nambatac powered TNT with 17 points off the bench. Ganuelas-Rosser chipped in 15 markers, six boards and five dimes, while Jordan Heading had 14 for TNT, which shot just 35.2% from the field compared to San Miguel’s 55.7% clip.

Game 3 is on Sunday, 7:30 p.m., at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.