TNT Dominates San Miguel in One-Sided Victory

TNT made a bold statement in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup with a commanding 118-92 victory over longtime rival San Miguel on Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

From the opening tip, TNT seized control of the game, jumping out to a massive 35-16 lead in the first quarter. The Tropang 5G never looked back, using their depth and precision to turn what was expected to be a tightly contested matchup into a lopsided affair.

TNT coach Chot Reyes credited the team’s strong performance to their healthier lineup, noting the absence of key San Miguel players, such as Chris Ross and Jericho Cruz. “We’re still missing Poy [Erram] and Kelly [Williams], but having Jayson [Castro] and Roger [Pogoy] made a big difference,” he said after the game.

Bol Bol was the star of the night, putting on a dominant performance with 34 points on 50% shooting and 18 rebounds in 34 minutes. Calvin Oftana added 18 points, including three triples, while Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser contributed 13 points and two blocks. Justin Chua added 11 points off the bench, and the team as a whole saw 13 players contribute at least two points.

TNT’s shooting was on fire, hitting 10 three-pointers, half of which came in the opening quarter alone.

San Miguel struggled to keep up with TNT’s intensity. Marcus Lee delivered a stellar individual performance, putting up 30 points and 14 rebounds, while June Mar Fajardo added 15 points and 20 rebounds. CJ Perez and Don Trollano each chipped in 12 points, but the Beermen’s efforts weren’t enough as they fell to a 1-2 record.

With the win, TNT (2-1) looks ahead to the Lenten break before facing Meralco on April 7 for a highly anticipated all-MVP showdown at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

San Miguel, now at 1-2, will aim to regroup quickly with a match against winless Macau on Tuesday, March 31.