San Miguel went down by as many as 35 points in TNT's lopsided win in Game 4 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals Wednesday, Jan. 28.
Cjay Perez refused to blame anyone but the San Miguel Beermen themselves in the aftermath of their 87-110 loss to the TNT Tropang 5G in Game 4 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Perez said the Beermen came out devoid of energy and effort to match the Tropang 5G’s from the get-go as they trailed by as many as 17 points in the opening period.
The best-of-seven series is once again tied at 2-2.
[RELATED STORY: Chot Reyes pleased as TNT ties PBA Finals series vs San Miguel in Game 4]
“Sobrang sama. Wala talagang effort, walang energy sa offense, sa defense. Nag-start sila nang sobrang ganda. 'Yon ang problema, defense talaga at offense, ang pangit din,” Perez told reporters on his way out of the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
"Sobrang laki na [ng lamang] so mahirap na talaga lalo na't TNT ang kalaban."
The Game 3 hero — who scored 17 in the fourth period, including seven big points in the final 30 seconds of SMB's 95-89 victory two days ago — observed that TNT did not really make major adjustments come Game 4.
[WATCH: TNT's Calvin Oftana catches fire for 29 points vs SMB in Game 4 | PBA Highlights]
And yet, the Beermen ended up unlike the defending champion that they are out there.
“Wala naman silang bagong ginawa. 'Yong physicality, nandoon pa rin, 'yong energy. Wala naman silang masyadong binago sa ginagawa nila. It's just us na hindi kami naka-adjust kaagad. Hindi namin naibigay ang effort namin nang maaga,” Perez said.
[ALSO READ: PBA: San Miguel star June Mar Fajardo cops record-extending 13th BPC plum]
Unlike in their previous games, the Beermen could not conjure a comeback this time as they stayed in the Tropang 5G's rearview mirror the entire way.
At one point in the second half, San Miguel even saw itself down by as much as 35 points. As hard as they tried to recover, the Beermen could not just turn the game around.
With the series getting more intense, Perez knows SMB needs to shift into higher gear to keep its hopes of retaining the crown.
"Move on kami sa next game and, hopefully, makuha namin 'yong panalo kasi mahirap talagang kalaban ang TNT lalo na 'pag sa ganitong mga series," he said.
“Papalapit nang papalapit, siyempre, magiging mas intense pa 'yan. It’s up to us kung paano kami mag-re-respond sa adjustment, sa physicality na ibibigay ng TNT."
—
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.