The Manila Times

TNT, SMB gun for 2-0 semis lead

BY REY JOBLE

DEFENDING champion TNT is regaining its championship form. So is San Miguel Beer (SMB), the winningest team in the PBA, which is looking to return to the championship round in three years.

On Friday, the two powerhouse teams will try to move halfway to making their way back to the championship round when they take on separate rivals in Game 2 of their PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinals series.

The Tropang Giga will face the Magnolia Timplados Hotshots in the main game at 6 p.m.

TNT came out with more energy in the series opener, taking advantage of their fresh legs to outpace the worn down Hotshots, who were coming off a grueling three-game quarterfinals series, including an overtime encounter against the NLEX Road Warriors in Game 3.

Against the Hotshots, the Tropang Giga led from start to finish, even padding their advantage to as high as 24 points, 84-60, late in the third period.

The defensive-minded Hotshots had no answer to the explosive Mikey Williams, the reigning scoring champ, who knocked in 26 points, built around four triples.

By the third period, the game was practically over as Williams had already unloaded all of those points before Roger Pogoy and Glenn Khobuntin joined in the scoring fray.

Pogoy, the second best scorer in the team, delivered 15 of his 23 points in the second half while Khobuntin scored 11 of his 18 markers in the last 24 minutes of action.

“I’m blessed to have players who play multiple positions,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes, referring to his players’ ability to play, not just on the offensive end, but also in staying active on the defensive end.

“We built this team primarily on versatility and agility. We’re not the biggest in the league by any means, so we have to compensate in other ways.”

San Miguel Beer, on other hand,

Games Today (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 3 p.m. San Miguel vs Meralco 6 p.m. Magnolia vs TNT

relied on its firepower in totally outplaying Meralco, 121-97.

CJ Perez once again presided over the team’s offense, but it was the usual balanced production of the Beermen that gave them dominance over the Bolts.

Perez knocked in 25 points, 18 of those happened as early as the first period when the Beermen dictated the tempo of the game.

Rodney Brondial came away with a double-double showing and tallied a career-high 20 points to go along with 11 boards.

Asked about his thoughts on the career-high, Brondial downplayed his aggressiveness on the offensive end as he’s more concentrated on the things he’s comfortable doing — rebounding and defense.

“Actually, I’m more conscious of rebounds rather than the points, but it feels great to make a contribution and help my team win,” said Brondial.

Aside from Perez and Brondial, six more players produced eight points or more in another explosive performance for the Beermen.

Vic Manuel had 16 points, four assists and three rebounds, six-time MVP June Mar Fajardo tallied 11 points, but pulled down six boards and dished out five assists while Marcio Lassiter added 10 markers.

Jericho Cruz contributed nine markers while Simon Enciso and Mo Tautuaa each had eight points for the Beermen.

So efficient was Enciso, who had a +28 in efficiency rating in that game while playing the role as the starting point guard for the team. He also had four rebounds, three assists and a steal, while shooting 2-of-4 tries from beyond the arc to complement his all-around game.

Sports

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2022-08-05T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-08-05T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://digitaledition.manilatimes.net/article/282149295076097

The Manila Times