Teng’s late-game surge powers Beermen past Ginebra; TNT disconnects Meralco, installs 2-0 semis boost

TNT Tropang 5G and San Miguel Beermen both left no stones unturned and scripted their respective triumphs in Game 2 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Semifinals at Smart Araneta Coliseum, Jan. 7.

Roaring back when it mattered most, Jeron Teng’s fourth-quarter eruption flipped the script and sparked San Miguel Beermen’s crucial 93-84 comeback against Barangay Ginebra to tie the series at 1-all.

The 6-foot-2 guard, who did not play in the previous game, went into flow and exploded as he scored 12 of his 13 markers in the final period to seal the deal.

With their backs against the wall, the nine-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo unleashed mayhem in the paint going onto the third quarter to shift the gears and orchestrate the much-needed rally from a 36–45 hurdle.

Engaging in a nip-and-tuck affair going into crunch time, Teng emerged as the X-factor San Miguel needed and sizzled a personal 8–2 barrage converted off layups and jumpers en route to an 82–74 lead.

Ginebra was not able to extinguish the Beermen’s fire as Fajardo’s consecutive layups in the closing possessions proved to be the final nail on the coffin, sealing their disheartening fate.

Turning the tides, Marcio Lassiter’s flurry of three-pointers combined with Fajardo’s paint dominance was enough to erase the red-clad ballers’ double-digit lead in the third canto and snag its first-ever lead in the game at 65–63.

Veteran Japeth Aguilar paved the way in the second frame, controlling the pace with his perimeter shooting as Ginebra concluded the first half with a commanding 7–2 rally.

The opening quarter involved back-and-forth shooting with the lead frequently being exchanged but an 8–0 blitz powered from multiple attacks inside the paint enabled Ginebra to draw first blood.

Fajardo proved his dominance once again with a monster double-double masterclass of 21 points, 23 rebounds, and one assist, with Teng posting 13 markers, five boards, and a dime to secure Game 2.

Ginebra marksman Stephen Holt garnered 18 points from 4-of-4 three-point shooting, three rebounds, and two assists with sixth man RJ Abarrientos supporting the squad  tallying 18 points, three, rebounds, and two assists but was insufficient to barge into the winning column.

Meralco’s Game 2 disconnection

On the other hand, TNT continued their winning ways as they surged off with a strong start and never looked back as they showcased their three-point dominance to trounce Meralco with a 109-92 drubbing to establish a commanding 2–0 cushion in the semifinals series.

The third-seeded squad fired at all angles with an efficient 44-of-80 clip (55.0%) throughout the match, enough to snuff the Bolts’ chances from flipping the script.

Meralco’s shooting slump also made victory slip through their fingers as they only made a lone triple from 28 attempts, which was not enough for TNT’s 12-of-28 three-point dominance.

Sustaining the momentum from their previous win, TNT’s Calvin Oftana and Jordan Heading took turns in battering the opposition right from the get-go, propelling to a strong 21–10 surge before ending the opening period with a double-digit cushion.

Meralco’s Chris Newsome rose to the occasion as he unleashed an avalanche of midrange jumpers to whittle the deficit going into the second frame but was quickly overshadowed by TNT center Kelly Williams with four made triples along with a Heading four-pointer to maintain their spot at the driver’s seat, 57–46.

Never taking their foot off the gas pedal, the black-clad cagers wreaked havoc and unleashed a 11–4 frenzy from inside scoring in the third canto, dooming the Trillo-mentored squad’s chances to recover from an 82-66 hole.

From then on, TNT’s consistent overall shooting in the payoff period was enough to whitewash Meralco despite a 7–2 flurry off Bong Quinto’s paint scoring.

Oftana emerged as the leading scorer for the Tropang 5G with 26 points and seven rebounds, while Heading bolstered the offensive charge with 24 markers and a board.

Newsome stuffed 18 points, five rebounds, and four assists for the Meralco Bolts but was not enough to revitalize the team.

Action resumes on Friday, January 9, with the remaining four squads set to collide in high-stakes matchups, each battling for a coveted berth in the much-anticipated PBA Philippine Cup Finals.