Don Trollano was eager to make up for a lousy performance in the PBA Finals opener. He led San Miguel in scoring in Game 2 and earned Player of the Game honors.
Don Trollano made sure to silence his critics two days after drawing jeers from them.
The San Miguel stalwart spearheaded San Miguel's retaliation in Game 2 of its PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals showdown against TNT Friday night, Jan. 23.
Atoning for a measly four-point outing in the previous match, Trollano dropped a game-best 22 points to fuel the Beermen's 111-92 victory that allowed them to draw level with the Tropang 5G in the best-of-seven series.
“'Yong mindset ko lang talaga is bumawi kasi noong Game 1, pangit ang laro ko,” said Trollano at the end of the match at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
“Iniisip ko lang, hindi kami puwedeng madown ng (0-2). Ginawa ko lang ang best ko.”
The SMB winger also collected four rebounds, an assist and a steal.
[WATCH: San Miguel regroups to take Game 2 of Finals vs TNT | PBA Highlights]
Strong start for San Miguel
The Beermen also learned from their mistakes in Game 1, making sure they would race off to a scintillating start this time.
SMB led by 57-33 at the half, before dousing a late Tropang 5G rally that saw the latter trim the gap to 10.
Jio Jalalon made a trip to the free-throw line for TNT, canning both shots to fan the hopes of TNT at 87-97 with 2:26 left to play.
[ALSO READ: SMB ace Jericho Cruz to be fined by PBA after flashing dirty finger in Game 1 loss to TNT]
But San Miguel restored order via an 11-0 outburst that buried the Tropang 5G for good.
June Mar Fajardo posted 17 points and 16 rebounds to backstop Trollano. He also had a block and a steal.
Mo Tautuaa scored 14, Cjay Perez added 13 markers, while Jericho Cruz and Marcio Lassiter submitted 12 points apiece.
Meanwhile, Rey Nambatac fired 17 points, including a four-pointer that turned what was once a 24-point deficit to 10, 65-75, at the start of the fourth.
But the former Finals Most Valuable Player cooled off when it mattered for Tropang 5G.
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser backstopped him with 15 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals, Jordan heading put up 14 points, while Kevin Ferrer contributed 11 points, including two four-pointers midway through the fourth period that kept the team afloat.
Game 3 is set Sunday, Jan. 25, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
San Miguel vs. TNT Scores:
San Miguel 111 – Trollano 22, Fajardo 17, Tautuaa 14, Perez 13, Lassiter 12, Cruz 12, Tiongson 9, Brondial 6, Ross 3, Miller 3, Cahilig 0, Calma 0, Mantua 0, Rosales 0
TNT 92 – Nambatac 17, Ganuelas-Rosser 15, Heading 14, Oftana 11, Ferrer 11, Williams 8, Jalalon 7, Galinato 5, Khobuntin 2, Hill 2, Erram 0, Enciso 0, Aurin 0
Quarterscores: 30-18, 57-33, 75-61, 111-92
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.