PBA Finals: TNT strikes back at San Miguel, leads series 2-1

Cubao, Quezon City – TNT KaTropa gave the San Miguel Beermen a whipping, 115-105 and took Game 3 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Terrence Jones was called for a flagrant-1 foul with the referees catching the TnT import giving Chris Ross a headbutt heading to the timeout.

Along with Troy Rosario, both of them got to foul trouble early with three fouls each in the first period. Chris McCullough led the early charge with 11 points with the Beermen taking a 15-point lead heading to the second quarter.

Risking foul trouble, Rosario and Jones played it through and rallied on a 24-0 run to lead by seven points at the 4:29 mark in the second quarter. The former Houston Rocket finished the half with 20 points and 8 rebounds while KaTropa takes a 5-point lead.

TnT continued their momentum as they blocked any run attempt of San Miguel in the third period. Jones added 12 points to his total as KaTropa comes to the final period with an eight-point lead.

Don Trollano and RR Pogoy with Jones came alive raining a combined of six three-point shots as they pull away for the victory over the Beermen.

Jones finished the game flirting with a triple-double with 37 points, 18 rebounds, nine assists, and five blocks. Pogoy fired with 29 points while sinking five three-point shots, four in the fourth quarter.

Don Trollano provided the hustle with 18 points, five rebounds and dropped three shots from the arc.

Meanwhile, June Mar Fajardo and Chris McCullough finished with the same numbers with 27 points and 13 rebounds apiece.

Chris Ross and Alex Cabagnot combined for only 8 points in the entire game.

Game 4 will be played on Sunday, August 11 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The scores:

TNT (115) – Jones 37, Pogoy 29, Trollano 18, Castro 14, Rosario 13, Heruela 4, Washington 0, Golla 0, Taha 0, Carey 0, D. Semerad 0, Casino 0, Magat 0.

San Miguel (105) – McCullough 27, Fajardo 27, Romeo 13, Pessumal 12, Santos 10, Standhardinger 8, Ross 5, Cabagnot 3, Rosser 0.

Quarterscores: 18-33, 55-50, 86-78, 115-105.