SIZE matters.
It's the case now in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals with San Miguel Beer capitalizing on its height and heft advantage against the injury-depleted TNT Tropang 5G, and seizing series upper hand with a 108-88 victory Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With a follow-up on their 98-92 win in Game 2, the Beermen are now halfway through to claiming the prize in the best-of-seven series - and in foiling TNT's Grand Slam aspiration.
June Mar Fajardo was an unstoppable man-mountain, powering his way to 33 points plus 11 rebounds, with four teammates contributing double-digit outputs as the Beermen imposed themselves against the TNT side losing much size and defensive strength on the sidelining of Poy Erram (ankle injury).
At the buzzer, Erram was badly limping towards the Big Dome tunnel, a strong sign TNT would still be without the 6-foot-8 center in Game 4 Sunday over at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.
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Severely handicapped, the Tropang 5G were beaten by the Beermen practically on all fronts. It's 48-28 for San Miguel on points at the paint.
Chris Ross had another clutch performance with 15 points, including dagger treys that nailed the last nails on TNT's coffin and gave the Beermen the 2-1 series lead.
Jericho Cruz chipped in 13 markers, CJ Perez 12 and Don Trollano 10 for the Beermen who shrugged off TNT's strong challenge at the start then dominated the second half.
Perez fired a four-ball from an error by Paul Varilla late in the second quarter as San Miguel enjoyed a 59-52 lead at the half.
Despite an imposing 21-point first half from Fajardo, the Beermen endured a battle in the first 24 minutes of play. They even trailed by 10 at the start but found some opening that they pounced on towards the end of the second period.
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Fajardo had a 6-of-7 field shooting and 9-of-11 free throws plus six rebounds in the first half with Cruz adding 12.
The Tropa were in the thick of things in the first two quarters largely behind 7-of-11 three pointers with Kelly Williams making 3-of-3.(SB)
The Scores :
SAN MIGUEL 108 - Fajardo 33, Ross 15, Cruz 13, Perez 12, Trollano 10, Tautuaa 9, Lassiter 6, Brondial 6, Rosales 2, Teng 2, Tiongson 0, Calma 0.
TNT 88 - Pogoy 16, Offtana 15, Vosotros 14, Khobuntin 13, Williams 11, Heading 10, Ganuelas-Rosser 3, Enciso 3, Galinato 3, Heruela 0, Variila 0, Aurin 0.
QUARTERS: 22-25, 59-52, 86-70, 108-88
