Defending champion TNT on the verge of Finals return with Game 4 win vs Magnolia

The TNT Tropang Giga moved a step closer to another finals appearance after carving out a 102-84 Game 4 victory over Magnolia in their best-of-seven semifinals series in the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The win allowed the reigning All-Filipino champions to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.

RR Pogoy didn't waste any opportunity to get his offense going, unleashing 15 points early as TNT took a slim 42-38 halftime lead as Magnolia relied on Paul Lee, who poured 11 to keep his team in it.

Jayson Castro, who clinched the game-winner triple in Game 3, was limited to just five points while Mikey Williams was held scoreless in the first half action.

But TNT suddenly stepped on the gas in the third, building a 17-point lead, 68-51 after a Troy Rosario basket before the Hotshots, hobbled by foul troubles in the quarter, trailed 70-54 heading to the fourth.

Williams then found his touch in the payoff period as he had four triples that gave them a comfortable 90-69 cushion to basically put the game away for good.

Wiliams finished with 15 points, seven assists, three steals and two rebounds but it was big man Poy Erram who led TNT with 19 markers off the bench to go along with 13 boards as TNT was simply unstoppable.

Pogoy finished with 18 points while Troy Rosario also chipped in 15.

TNT will look to close the series out on Friday in Game 5 at 3 p.m.

The scores:

TNT 102 - Erram 19, Pogoy 18, M. Williams 15, Rosario 15, Castro 9, Khobuntin 9, Reyes 6, K. Williams 4, Cruz 3, Alejandro 2, Ganuelas-Rosser 2, Montalbo 0, Marcelo 0.

Magnolia 84 - Sangalang 19, Lee 17, Dionisio 14, Reavis 7, Barroca 5, Dela Rosa 4, Jalalon 4, Wong 4, Abueva 4, Corpuz 2, Brill 2, Zaldivar 2, Ahanmisi 0, Laput 0, Escoto 0.

Quarters: 18-15, 42-38, 70-54, 102-84

—JMB, GMA News