FILE – Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–San Miguel Beer drew big numbers from its twin towers June Mar Fajardo and import Chris McCullough to slip past TNT, 106-101, in Game 4 and level the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals Sunday night at Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
“June Mar was able to play comfortably inside and that’s what exactly we needed,” said SMB coach Leo Austria, whose prized ward Fajardo had 22 points and seven rebounds.
McCullough recorded a double-double with 27 points and 22 rebounds.
Fajardo and McCullough made the key plays down the stretch to hold off TNT’s spirited rallies late led by newly-crowned Best Import Terrence Jones.
“We didn’t want to be in that 1-3 position because it is really hard to recover,” Austria added.
TNT got twin-digit performances from four of its starters spearheaded by Jones, who did it all again with 32 points, 16 rebounds, six assists, six steals and two blocks. Troy Rosario tossed in 24 more while Jayson Castro, who was named Best Player of the Conference for the fifth time in his decorated career, had 17 and Don Trollano tallied 16.
The two flagship teams break the tie Wednesday night also at the Big Dome.