PBA: San Miguel hangs on to frustrate TNT, cruises to 2-0

San Miguel squandered an early double-digit lead, but fended off a strong comeback attempt from TNT to gut out a narrow 91-89 win in the PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday at the Ynares Center Antipolo. 

The Beermen led by as many as 15 before the Tropang Giga mounted a huge second half, but the former held on to improve to 2-0 while the latter dropped to an even 2-2 card. 

TNT got some lifeline in the fourth when rookie Kim Aurin ignited the fightback, but a star-studded San Miguel roster responded massively with Marcio Lassiter sinking a triple that would give them an 82-74 cishion. 

Veterans Jayson Castro and RR Pogoy, though, retaliated with a triple each to fuel a 10-4 rampage that cut the deficit to two. Kelly Williams then had costly misses from the free throw line with a pair of split charities, 90-89. 

After a split as well from Jericho Cruz, TNT was able to manufacture a final play during the last timeout but Chris Ross’ pesky defense on Castro forced big man Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser to take the desperate triple and missed. 

June Mar Fajardo top-scored San Miguel off the bench, churning out a double-double of 15 points and 17 rebounds while Cruz, Marcio Lassiter, and Don Trollano each listed 12 markers. 

Castro finished with 20 points for the Chot Reyes-mentored squad while Pogoy had 14. 

Scores:

San Miguel 91 – Fajardo 15, Lassiter 12, Trollano 12, Cruz 12, Romeo 9, Enciso 9, Perez 9, Ross 6, Teng 5, Tautuaa 2, Brondial 0.

TNT 89 – Castro 20, Pogoy 15, Oftana 14, K.Williams 14, Aurin 10, Heruela 4, Ganuelas-Rosser B. 4, Ebona 4, Khobuntin 2, Ponferrada 2, Reyes 0, Varilla 0, Montalbo 0, Ganuelas-Rosser M. 0.

Quarters: 25-23, 52-39, 72-70, 91-89

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News