After a breakthrough win in Game 3, the Meralco Bolts came into Game 4 on Sunday looking to tie their PBA Philippine Cup semis series with the TNT Tropang 5G at two games apiece. But the Tropa, led by big man Poy Erram, had other plans, riding high on a strong third quarter to subdue the Bolts, 102-83, and take a commanding 3-1 lead in the two teams’ best-of-seven showdown.
What Happened?
TNT and Meralco engaged in a heavyweight slugfest in the first quarter, with neither team giving an inch. But it was the Tropa who won the first 12 minutes behind 12 big points from SEA Games gold medalist Poy Erram. The veteran center added 9 more points in the second to help TNT take a 45-38 lead into intermission.
The floodgates opened after halftime, with TNT outscoring Meralco, 27-18, as Kelly Williams, Jordan Heading, and Calvin Oftana all got into the scoring parade. TNT continued putting up points in the fourth as the Bolts’ defense unraveled while their offense sputtered in the blowout loss.
Who Stood Out?
Poy Erram put on a masterpiece for TNT, putting up 27 markers on top of 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocks. He was also a hyper-efficient 9-for-11 from the field and 8-for-10 from the foul line while patrolling TNT’s impenetrable interior defense. Calvin Oftana and Jordan Heading, who had off nights in Game 3, bounced back with 14 and 15, respectively, with Oftana firing 7 of his total in TNT’s big third quarter.
Meralco, meanwhile, drew solid games from Chris Banchero, CJ Cansino, and Cliff Hodge. Banchero led the way with 19 points and 5 rebounds, while Hodge had 17 points and 8 caroms. Cansino came off the bench to add 17 points and 3 steals.
3 Keys to the Game
- Defense. TNT’s defense was once again stifling in Game 4, swarming the perimeter and putting up a wall in the paint with Poy Erram as the anchor. As a result, Meralco shot a ghastly 36.6% from the field while going 1-for-12 from the arc.
- Poy Erram. Again, Erram was the story of this game for TNT, as he held the fort for the Tropa in an uneven first half. In fact, Erram nearly had half of TNT’s first-half points as he carried the team to the lead in the first 24 minutes of Game 4.
- Three-point shooting. The Tropa made 12 triples as opposed to Meralco’s 1, and that meant a huge 33-point difference. TNT also made 8 of their 12 three-pointers in the second half, when they broke the game wide open.
Next Up for the PBA
The PBA Philippine Cup will return to the Mall of Asia Arena for a pair of Game 5s. The TNT Tropang 5G and Meralco Bolts will open the Wednesday doubleheader, with the Tropa seeking to close out the Bolts in five games. Ginebra and San Miguel will follow in the nightcap, with each team looking to get on the proverbial hill.
Meralco vs. TNT (5:15 p.m.)
Ginebra vs. San Miguel (7:30 p.m.)
