By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter
THE San Miguel Beermen came from behind to take Game Two of their best-of-seven Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup semifinal series over the TnT Tropang Giga, 98-96, on Wednesday to level the affair at a game apiece.
Marcio Lassiter drained the game-winning putback from under the basket as time expired to complete the San Miguel comeback and stun the Tropang Giga at the Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
The win thrusted the Beermen to leveling their semifinal series with TnT and reducing their semifinal joust in the ongoing Philippine Basketball Association tournament to a race-to-three wins.
TnT was in control of the contest for much of the time, even holding the lead as high as 19 points, 80-61, with 1:43 to go in the third quarter.
But like what they did in the first game, the Beermen fashioned out a ferocious charge-back in the fourth quarter and succeeded this time around.
Led by Terrence Romeo, San Miguel steadily made its way back, cutting its deficit to just five points, 84-79, at the 7:05 mark.
The Beermen continued to crowd the Tropang Giga after and eventually went on top, 96-93, with 10 seconds left to play.
TnT managed to pull even after Troy Rosario drained a three-pointer with six seconds remaining over the outstretched arm of Mo Tautuaa.
San Miguel sued for time after.
Off the time out, the Beermen went to June Mar Fajardo but his attempt to the basket was defended well by the TnT defense.
Arwind Santos got to tip the ball to the direction of the basket but also missed to connect before Mr. Lassiter grabbed the rebound and drained the putback as the seconds ticked away.
“It’s all heart by the players,” a relieved San Miguel coach Leo Austria said in the postgame press conference, in describing the efforts of his players in Game Two.
Mr. Romeo had 26 points for San Miguel in the big win, followed by Mr. Fajardo who had 22 to go along with 10 rebounds.
Game hero Mr. Lassiter only had seven points but made up for it with the game-winner.
For TnT, it was Roger Pogoy who top-scored with 21 points, with JP Erram tallying a double-double of 20 points and 10 boards.
Game Three of the San Miguel-TnT series is on Friday at 6 p.m.