San Miguel Beer forces do-or-die with rout of TNT

It's not yet over for the San Miguel Beermen.

SMB forced a rubber match in the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup finals after a rout of TNT Tropang Giga, 114-96, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday.

SMB relied on a strong start, making 40 points in the first quarter alone and limiting TNT to just 23 points. The Beermen led by as many as 26 points in the second period, 56-30, before the first half ended in their advantage, 63-50.

TNT trimmed their deficit to just nine points in the third period, but the Beermen rallied late in the frame to end at 92-68.

With the game in their control, the Beermen led by 30 points, 112-82, with 3:42 left in the fourth period and gave TNT a hard time to catch up.

Marcio Lassiter and Simon Enciso waxed hot from beyond the arc with six triples each, with the former getting 22 points and the latter having 20 points. CJ Perez also drilled all of his three-point attempts and finished with 20 points.

Mo Tautuaa and Jericho Cruz chipped in 15 and 11 points, respectively, while Best Player of the Conference June Mar Fajardo was limited to 10 points but had 12 rebounds.

SMB spoiled RR Pogoy's 31-point output, while Jaydee Tungcab and Troy Rosario had 12 and 10 points each.

The decider of the series will be played on Sunday.

The Scores:

SMB 114 – Lassiter 22, Perez 20,  Enciso 20, Tautuaa 15, Cruz 11, Fajardo 10, Brondial 6, Manuel 5, Ross 3, Pessumal 2, Canete 0, Herndon 0, Zamar 0, Faundo 0.

TNT 96 – Pogoy 31, Tungcab 12, Rosario 10, Montalbo 8, K.Williams 8, Marcelo 5, Banal 3, Cruz 3, M.Williams 2, Ganuelas-Rosser 0, Reyes 0.

Quarter scores: 40-24, 63-50, 92-68, 114-96.

—MGP, GMA News