The TNT Tropang 5G need to find a way to arrest a two-game skid entering Game 4 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals against San Miguel.
With their backs inching closer to the wall, TNT Tropang 5G will try to stop the bleeding and even the series when they face the surging San Miguel Beermen in Game 4 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals on Sunday, July 20.
The match starts at 7:30 p.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Down 2-1 in the best-of-seven showdown, TNT is reeling from back-to-back defeats — the latest a 108-88 drubbing in Game 3 where the absence of big man Poy Erram loomed large.
Erram, who sprained his right ankle in Game 2 and watched Game 3 in an air cast, remains doubtful, leaving TNT vulnerable in the paint.
“June Mar had 33 points because we had nobody to match up [against him] aside from Kelly. That was really very big for us,” admitted TNT head coach Chot Reyes, as the Beermen leaned on Fajardo’s dominance to seize control of the series.
[RELATED STORY: Will Poy Erram return in Game 4 of PBA Finals? TNT coach Chot Reyes gives update]
RR Pogoy led TNT with 16 points, three rebounds, and an assist, while Calvin Oftana added 15 points and nine boards.
But despite the effort, the Tropang 5G collapsed in the fourth quarter, unable to keep pace with San Miguel’s veteran core.
TNT, which is chasing a historic Grand Slam after winning the season’s first two conferences, must now summon the resilience that has defined its run — and find answers in the middle — if it wants to avoid falling into a 3-1 hole against the most decorated franchise in league history.
[ALSO READ: Vosotros emerges as TNT's spark off the bench in Game 3: 'May kaunting kapal pa ng mukha’]
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]