Clutch Robbie Herndon comes alive in OT as San Miguel outlasts TNT to lead 2-1

Robbie Herndon took over in overtime to tow San Miguel to a 108-100 victory against TNT in Game 3 of their best-of-seven finals in the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Herndon quickly redeemed himself after a costly technical foul late in the fourth, opening the extra five-minute frame with a personal 5-0 run as the Beermen's lead extended to 99-94.

Jericho Cruz and veteran Chris Ross then fueled a 7-3 rampage before RR Pogoy knocked down a triple for a 106-100 spread with barely 90 seconds left to spare. Cruz again completed two charities to seal the win.

SMB now holds a 2-1 lead in the series ahead of the Game 4 slated on Sunday.

San Miguel waxed hot early, building a nine-point lead with 3:22 left in the second period, 45-36. But TNT banked on a 10-4 run led by Jayson Castro to end the first half trailing by just three, 46-49.

Neither team could not create a huge gap in the third period, which closed out with San Miguel and TNT separated by two points, 76-74, this time in favor of the Tropang Giga, who was missing head coach Chot Reyes due to his national team duties.

Down 94-93 with 11 ticks left, Pogoy sank one free throw to tie the game after San Miguel was whistled for a technical foul following two consecutive delays of the match.

Castro then took matters into his own hands but was unable to drop his off-balanced shot as Cruz did a good job on the defense to send the game into overtime, 94-94.

Five SMB players were in double digit marks with June Mar Fajardo churning out monster numbers with his 27 points, 27 rebounds, two assists, and one block while Cruz registered 18 markers.

The Scores:

San Miguel 108 - Fajardo 27, Cruz 18, Lassiter 13, Manuel 12, Perez 11, Ross 8, Herndon 8, Tautuaa 6, Brondial 5, Enciso 0.

TNT 100 - Pogoy 25, M. Williams 17, Castro 17, Erram 11, Khobuntin 11, K. Williams 10, Rosario 4, Reyes 3, Marcelo 2, Montalbo 0, Cruz 0, Ganuelas-Rosser 0.

Quarter scores: 27-19, 49-46, 74-76, 108-100.

—MGP, GMA News