ANTIPOLO, Rizal — There would be no slow start for the San Miguel Beermen this time.
Determined to avoid a repeat of their Game 1 collapse, the Beermen stormed out of the gates with an aggressive opening salvo to overwhelm the TNT Tropang Giga, 109-97, evening the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals at one game apiece on Friday night at the Ynares Center.
The Early Surge After falling behind early in the series opener, San Miguel reversed the script by exploding for 35 points in the first quarter alone. Led by the high-octane duo of CJ Perez and June Mar Fajardo, the Beermen built a double-digit cushion that they refused to surrender for the remainder of the contest.
- CJ Perez: The “Predator” spearheaded the attack with 28 points, constantly punishing the TNT defense in transition.
- June Mar Fajardo: The reigning MVP anchored the interior with a dominant double-double of 22 points and 17 rebounds, providing the stability San Miguel lacked in the previous game.
Clamping Down on Defense Beyond the scoring burst, the Beermen’s coaching staff made key adjustments to neutralize TNT’s perimeter threats. After allowing the Tropang Giga to rain down three-pointers in Game 1, San Miguel utilized a more aggressive “hedge” defense, forcing TNT into difficult shots and late-clock situations.
- TNT Struggles: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson paced the Tropang Giga with 30 points, but he lacked consistent support from his local supporting cast, as RR Pogoy and Jayson Castro were held to single-digit scoring for much of the night.
Momentum Shift The victory not only ties the series but also re-establishes San Miguel as the aggressor heading into Game 3. “We talked about our energy levels after Game 1,” said San Miguel head coach Jorge Gallent. “We knew we couldn’t let them dictate the pace again. The guys responded and played Beermen basketball from the opening tip.”
The Road Ahead With the series now a best-of-five affair, both teams will head back to the drawing board before the pivotal Game 3 on Sunday. For the Beermen, the key remains their “death five” lineup’s ability to maintain high intensity, while TNT will look to rediscover the ball movement that gave them the early series lead.