Rodney Brondial took charge for the San Miguel Beermen in Game 5 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals Friday, Jan. 30.
Rodney Brondial was visibly cramping on his way down the court.
He then found himself open on the right corner where he swished a three-pointer to give San Miguel a 90-76 lead with 4:22 left to play.
It was that kind of night for Brondial where everything just went his way.
The San Miguel forward wound up with 17 points and 15 rebounds as the Beermen hammered out an 82-96 win over TNT in Game 5 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals Friday, Jan. 30.
“Talagang nasa isip naming ilang games na lang, so ibuhos na talaga kahit may nararamdaman tayo, may mga injuries," said Brondial, who also had two blocks.
"Pinipilit namin para, hopefully, matapos na namin."
Brondial said that San Miguel's 87-110 beatdown from TNT in Game 4 was a motivation for him and the rest of his teammates.
Come Game 5, however, the Beermen started flat, trailing 7-23 in the first period.
But behind the combined efforts of their bench, including Brondial and Kris Rosales, SMB stepped on the gas in the middle quarters to nab the win at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
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San Miguel thus inched closer to defending its All-Filipino crown as it now boasts a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
“Gusto naming manalo kasi mahirap ma-down 3-2 dito sa series, especially championship,” said Brondial.
June Mar Fajardo backstopped Brondial with 14 points and 11 rebounds, but the Best Player of the Conference needed to be subbed out at the 6:28 mark of the third period because of a right knee contusion.
The nine-time Most Valuable Player returned only halfway through the fourth period, when the Tropang 5G trimmed the gap to 11, 74-85.
Don Trollano turned in 14 markers, seven boards, an assist, a steal and a block, while Rosales added 12 points and four dimes.
[WATCH: PBA LIVESTREAM: TNT vs San Miguel | Philippine Cup Finals Game 5]
San Miguel will look to get the job done in Game 6 Sunday, Jan. 30, at the MOA Arena in Pasay.
“Medyo naging motivation ang pagkatalo namin last game, tambak. Medyo masama an pagkatalo so gusto talaga namin manalo,” Brondial said.
Calvin Oftana came up with another 20-point game after firing a conference-high 29 points the last time out for TNT.
He also produced nine rebounds, an assist and two steals.
Jordan Heading (13 points), Henry Galinato (11) and Rey Nambatac (10) also finished in double figures.
San Miguel vs. TNT Scores:
San Miguel 96 – Brondial 17, Fajardo 14, Trollano 14, Rosales 12, Tautuaa 11, Lassiter 11, Perez 10, Cruz 5, Ross 2, Cahilig 0
TNT 82 – Oftana 20, Heading 13, Galinato 11, Nambatac 10, Williams 9, Erram 5, Ganuelas-Rosser 3, Jalalon 3, Enciso 3, Khobuntin 3, Ferrer 2, Aurin 0, Hill 0
Quarterscores: 19-29, 47-48, 77-61, 96-82
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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.