BOUNCING back from a last-minute meltdown in the previous game, TNT Tropang 5G made sure that there would be no comeback this time around as they routed the defending champions San Miguel Beermen, in a 110-87 statement win in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals Game 4.
The last season’s runner-up played possession by possession, burying the Beermen in the most lopsided game in PBA finals history as they built a 35-point lead, 82-47, in the third frame, held at the jam-packed Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday evening.
With their backs against the wall, the Coach Chot Reyes-led squad came out determined not to falter under the pressure and played the whole 48 minutes with the same focus and fire they had from the tip-off.
“The only thing we wrote on the board before the game was No. 48 because that’s the way to beat a team like this, to play good basketball for 48 minutes. Last game, we played for 36 minutes, and we lost in the end,” Reyes said, pertaining to their heartbreaking 95-89 loss against SMB in Game 3.
Tropang 5G rode on their hot shooting from beyond-the-arc as the team connected with a combined 20-of-31 (65 percent) from behind the three-point line, that was spearheaded by the career night of forward Calvin Oftana.
Oftana fired 29 points on 5-of-8 shooting from three-point range to lift TNT to its second win in the Best-of-7 Championship series, tying the Finals at two games apiece.
Guard Jordan Heading also had a huge game for the Tropang 5G, finishing the game with 17 points, including the baskets that dictated the avalanche that buried the Beermen in the first half.
Heading led the quick 11-point run that powered the TNT’s explosive 35-18 opening quarter. Rey Nambatac, Simon Enciso, Glenn Khobuntin, and Roger Pogoy then followed suit to help TNT build a commanding 65-40 lead at the half.
On the other side of the court, the 13th Best Player of the Conference awardee, June Mar Fajardo, was the lone bright spot for the reigning All-Filipino Conference champions. The 9-time league MVP once again pulled-off a double-double statline of 18 points and 16 rebounds in a losing effort.
Meanwhile, after his legendary heroics in Game 3 that single-handedly gave SMB the win, CJ Perez had a rough night as he ended the game with just 11 points in a dismal 4-of-15 shooting from the field.