Behind strong start, stronger finish, SMB clinches PBA PH Cup title anew

San Miguel is once again the PBA Philippine Cup champion. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

PASAY--San Miguel preserved a hot start with an even more dominant finish to clobber TNT, 92-77, and clinch back-to-back PBA Philippine Cup championships in front of 14,201 fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The Beermen were on a mission, racing to a 26-5 lead late in the first quarter, forcing the Tropang 5G to call three timeouts by that point.

However, behind the heroics of Calvin Oftana, TNT crawled back and even took the lead, 68-66, late in the third period.

SMB recovered after the TNT rally and ended the game on a 26-9 run to close out the game and eventually the series.

June Mar Fajardo, deemed questionable after injuring his knee in Game 5, played a monster game and finished with 29 points, 23 rebounds, two assists, one block, and two steals.

Fajardo matched TNT's scoring in the first quarter with 10 points, making his first five shots.

CJ Perez added 19 points, four rebounds, seven assists, and one steal, while Rodney Brondial, the hero in Game 5, chipped in 15 points, 13 rebounds, one assist, and one steal.

Oftana finished with 28 points, seven rebounds, and five assists for the Tropang 5G, who fell short in the all-Filipino conference for the second straight time.