Cruz unstoppable as San Miguel nears crown, puts TNT Grand Slam bid in peril

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Jericho Cruz turns in his best scoring performance of the PBA Philippine Cup finals as San Miguel grabs a commanding 3-1 lead over TNT, whose dream of joining the Grand Slam club now looks in danger

MANILA, Philippines – Jericho Cruz just could not miss as San Miguel moved on the cusp of the PBA Philippine Cup crown.

Cruz caught fire in the fourth quarter and scored a game-high-tying 23 points to propel the Beermen to a 105-91 win over TNT and a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven finals at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, July 20.

Averaging 9.0 points in the first three games, Cruz scattered 15 points in the final period as San Miguel won three games in a row to zero in on a record-extending 30th championship.

The Tropang 5G led 67-64 entering the last quarter before the Beermen turned the tides, with Cruz exploding for 12 points highlighted by three triples in a 24-12 run that allowed his side to grab an 88-79 lead with four minutes left.

Cruz shot 4-of-5 from the field and 4-of-5 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter.

Aside from Cruz, CJ Perez played arguably his best game of the series with 16 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds as he also hit big shots down the stretch.

Perez cashed in on a three-pointer that extended their lead to 95-84 and San Miguel coasted the rest of the way.

Newly crowned Best Player of the Conference June Mar Fajardo supplied 15 points, 12 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks in the win. 

The loss put TNT on the brink of seeing its Grand Slam bid go up in flames as the Tropang 5G ran out of gas in the final period, where they were outscored, 24-41.

Jordan Heading paced TNT with 23 points and 5 assists, while Kelly Williams and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser chimed in 14 points each.

The Scores

San Miguel 105 – Cruz 23, Perez 16, Fajardo 15, Trollano 11, Lassiter 10, Tiongson 8, Ross 7, Teng 6, Tautuaa 4, Calma 3, Brondial 2, Cahilig 0.

TNT 91 – Heading 23, Williams 14, Ganuelas-Rosser 14, Oftana 11, Pogoy 11, Khobuntin 7, Erram 6, Vosotros 3, Nieto 0, Heruela 0.

Quarters: 21-23, 45-37, 64-67, 105-91.

– Rappler.com