Tropang Giga clobber Beermen to boost bid for quarters bonus

MANILA, Philippines -- The TNT Tropang Giga strengthened their twice-to-beat bid in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup while pushing the San Miguel Beermen to the brink of elimination, 115-97, Sunday evening at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

With one elimination game remaining, TNT rose to 8-3 and is currently at solo second.

San Miguel, for its part, would need both NLEX and Magnolia to lose for a chance to make the quarterfinals. Both NLEX and Magnolia are holding 5-6 win-loss records.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson recorded a triple-double with 35 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists, to go with three steals and a block. RR Pogoy added 22 markers on 9-of-14 shooting.

San Miguel erased a double-digit deficit in the first quarter, unleashing a 20-6 run capped by a 3-pointer by Chris Ross to grab a 37-39 lead in the second quarter.

A triple by Calvin Oftana gave TNT the lead anew, but a pair of free throws by Mo Tautuaa pushed the Beermen ahead once again, 41-40.

But this was the last advantage San Miguel held onto as the Tropang Giga’s offense just could not be stopped, while their defense remained suffocating.

Come the third, San Miguel was trailing by nine, 70-79, with 1:29 remaining in the frame after a jumper by June Mar Fajardo.

But TNT ended the quarter with an 8-0 run as Jayson Castro and Poy Erram teamed up to grab an insurmountable 17-point lead, 87-70, heading into the fourth.

The Beermen tried to storm back but TNT just had answer after answer to any attempt of the defending champions.

After a Fajardo split from the line made it a 12 point game, 93-105, with 2:27 remaining, Pogoy hit the dagger triple to push their lead to 15. 108-93.

Free throws by Fajardo cut the deficit anew, but a 3-pointer by Oftana, put the icing on the cake, 111-95.

The exclamation point also came via a late 4-pointer by Hollis-Jefferson with the shot clock winding down, giving them a 20 point lead, 115-95, which was their biggest of the night.

Oftana backstopped TNT with 16 points, including four 3-pointers. Castro and Erram had 14 each.

Fajardo powered San Miguel with 34 points, 13 rebounds, a steal and a block. Don Trollano added 13 markers.

Import Malik Pope finished with just 10 points on 5-of-15 shooting, to go with seven boards and an assist. He was subbed out of the game with 5:27 remaining. The substitution came a few seconds after San Miguel forced a stop, and while Pope was bringing the ball downhill, he dribbled the ball onto his own foot as the rock went out of bounds.

The Tropang Giga will take on the slumping Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in their final elimination game on Friday, January 31.