QUICK turnaround.
From a disappointing defeat, San Miguel Beer returned with a strong performance and struck back at TNT, 98-92, in Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday.
No controversy but a dominant night for the Beermen who were led by Don Trollano, June Mar Fajardo and Moala Tautuaa in forging a one-game all deadlock with the Tropang 5G in the best-of-seven championship series.
The two teams break the tie in Game 3 which is also set at the Big Dome on Friday.
Trollano top scored with 22 points highlighted by his crucial explosion in the fourth while Fajardo and Tautuaa added 17 and 16, respectively, in the Beermen's big rebound from their 96-99 loss in the series kickoff.
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The Beermen stuck with each other the entire game, being a cohesive unit in beating the TNT side on both ends of the floor.
But the Tropang 5G returned to their lockers with their heads held high as they put in a fighting performance despite bad breaks, including Poy Erram ending up with a swollen ankle.
RR Pogoy also twisted his ankle early in the game. He's able to play almost 25 minutes but was nowhere near his hot Game 1 showing.
Calvin Oftana led TNT with 23 points.
The Tropang 5G were in the game until missing couples of layups and committing a series of errors. The Beermen pounced on it, with a seven-point binge from Trollano capped by a trey restoring a double-digit spread for SMB at 92-82.
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Dominated in the first 24 minutes of play, the Tropang 5G came alive in their return from the halftime huddle, firing away six treys to highlight a run that shoved them to within one, 74-75, at the end of the third.
They even caught up at 77-all then went crushing down.
Fajardo, Trollano and Jeron Teng put in 10 points each as the entire SMB team clobbered TNT, 38-8, on points at the paint in taking the first half at 51-39.
SMB sat on a 12-point cushion at halftime as the Beermen went 22-of-51 from the field in a smooth offense, limiting themselves to two errors that resulted to a 15-0 advantage on points off turnovers.
Fajardo had a 5-of-6 clip as Trollano and Teng combined for an 8-of-10 field shooting coming off the bench. San Miguel led by as big as 13 in the second period with Teng leading their assault.(SB)
The Scores :
SAN MIGUEL 98 - Trollano 22, Fajardo 17, Tautuaa 16, Teng 10, Perez 8, Ross 7, Cruz 6, Brondial 6, Tiongson 4, Lassiter 2.
TNT 92 - Oftana 23, Heading 15, Williams 11, Ganuelas-Rosser 10, Enciso 7, Erram 6, Pogoy 6, Khobuntin 6, Aurin 4, Heruela 4, Galinato 0, Varilla 0, Nieto 0.
QUARTERS: 23-19, 51-39, 75-74, 98-92
