PBA Finals: San Miguel dominates TNT to force Game 7 for title
Marcio Lassiter carries San Miguel to a Game 6 victory. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines–San Miguel Beer forced TNT to a deciding seventh game for the championship of the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup with a comprehensive performance that resulted in a 114-96 win on Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Marcio Lassiter, Simon Enciso, CJ Perez and Mo Tautuaa delivered big numbers as the Beermen got June Mar Fajardo’s supporting cast to step up and deny the Tropang Giga’s first crack at retaining the All-Filipino crown.
Article continues after this advertisementThe shooting of both Lassiter and Enciso during the first quarter helped San Miguel take control early and prevented TNT from making a serious run at completing the biggest comeback in a Finals game.
Lassiter dropped 22 points while Enciso had his best offensive production of not only the series but for the whole conference with 20 points, both making six threes apiece.
Perez got himself going this time and delivered 20 points even as Tautuaa added 15 points and eight rebounds.
Article continues after this advertisementFajardo only had 10 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, but was glad to receive plenty of help that enabled San Miguel to set up a Game 7 set Sunday at the Big Dome.
RR Pogoy fired 31 points, but he seemed to be the only bright spot on a night where everything almost went bad for the Tropang Giga.
Mikey Williams could only score two points after going 1-of-13 from the floor as TNT couldn’t connect its three-point shots, making just eight out of 35 attempts.
TNT also missed the services of Jayson Castro, who was in uniform but didn’t play after rolling his ankle in Game 5, and reliable forward Glenn Khobuntin, done for series with an injured MCL.
The scores:
SAN MIGUEL 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.
Quarters: 40-24, 63-50, 92-68, 114-96.
