By Juan Carlo Mercado

Marcio Lassiter, CJ Perez, and Simon Enciso exploded for a combined 62 points to advance the San Miguel Beermen and force a Game 7 against TNT Tropang Giga, 114-96, in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals round on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Photo Courtesy of PBA

Lassiter made it rain from downtown to end the game with 22 points on a 6/7 from rainbow country, 2 rebounds and 2 assists to suppress the Tropang Giga and try to win it all in the next game.

Perez contributed 20 points while making 3/3 from downtown, 4 boards, 3 assists while Enciso manufactured 20 points, 18 of which were from 3 as SMB even the series.

SMB shot better from 3-point area 45% as against TNT's 22%. They also outrebounded the Tropang Giga 52-42. Players coming off the bench contributed 54 points while TNT only had 37 bench points.

Meanwhile, RR Pogoy rallied his team on his shoulders by scoring 31 points on a 3/7 shooting from beyond the arc.

However, TNT yielded to SMB's explosiveness and managed to clamp down their prolific scorer, Mikey Williams. 

Kelly Williams failed to duplicate his performance from the previous game where he erupted for 21 points on a 4/6 shooting from the 3-point area.

In addition to that, TNT missed the services of Jayson Castro who has been their steady and effective point guard and Glenn Khobuntin who provided all the dirty work for the Tropang Giga

June Mar Fajardo provided a silent but effective game by adding 10 points, 12 boards, and 5 dimes while Mo Tautuaa added 15 points and 8 rebounds.

TNT will face the San Miguel Beermen on Sunday, September 4 at 5:45 pm.


Edited by Quian Vencel Galut