SMB pounces on Jayson Castro's absence, sends PBA PH Cup Finals vs. TNT to rubber match

Marcio Lassiter exploded from beyond the arc to keep the Beermen alive. Dennis Acosta

By Ivan Saldajeno

QUEZON CITY--San Miguel took advantage of Jayson Castro's absence and tore TNT apart with a 114-96 win in Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals on Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

With Castro sitting out what could have been the Tropang Giga's title clincher due to an ankle injury, RR Pogoy, despite a hot showing, came up short of providing the needed offensive juggernaut to compensate for Mikey Williams' subpar game as the Beermen sent their best-of-seven series to a decider on Sunday night back at "The Big Dome".

SMB quickly pounced on TNT after scoring 40 points in the first quarter, the most the PLDT franchise conceded for a single quarter in a PBA Finals game with Chot Reyes at the helm.

The Tropang Giga found contained the Beermen a bit in the second quarter and remained within striking distance come halftime, but the latter responded with a 29-18 third quarter to seal the rout.

Marcio Lassiter erupted from long range and finished with 22 points on 8-of-11 field goals including 6-of-7 on threes, two rebounds, two assists, and one steal for SMB.

CJ Perez and Simon Enciso each added 20, while June Mar Fajardo had a quiet double-double of 10 points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting and 12 rebounds with five assists.

Pogoy finished with 31 points, three rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block for TNT in a game where Williams was held to just two points.

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