Beermen fall to Pogoy, Tropang Giga in semis opener

RR Pogoy posted a conference-high 23 points as TNT survived San Miguel, 89-88, Sunday night in Game 1 of the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup playoffs at the Don Honorio Ventura State University in Bacolor, Pampanga.

The 2017 PBA Rookie of the Year shot 45% from the field to go along with 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

Jayson Castro scored 16 points on 6-of-15 shooting spiked by 2 three-pointers while JP Erram racked up 15 points, 5 rebounds and 1 block. Troy Rosario added 14 points, 4 rebounds and 1 block.

“You got it right. It was just all effort. I think the key was us believing that we could win despite the absence of Kelly (Williams). You know how big Kelly plays here,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes.

“For us, we said the most important things is for us to believe that we can win. The guys believed and it showed in the way they played tonight,” he added.

The Beermen had a chance to steal the victory away from the 7-time PBA champions but Marcio Lassiter missed the potential game-winner.

CJ Perez topscored for the Leo Austria-mentored squad with 23 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks while June Mar Fajardo tallied a double-double performance with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Arwind Santos contributed 12 points, 9 rebounds and a block.

The scores :

TNT 89 – Pogoy 23, Castro 16,Erram 15, Rosario 14, M.Williams 7, Montalbo 5, Khobuntin 4, Marcelo 3, Reyes 2, Heruela 0.

San Miguel 88 – Perez 23, Fajardo 13, Santos 12, Lassiter 10, Cabagnot 8, Ross 8, Romeo 8, Tautuaa 6, Gamalinda 0.

Quarterscores: 19-17, 42-41, 71-60, 89-88.