Brondial double-double powers San Miguel past TNT in Finals Game 5

Rodney Brondial, battling cramps after an intense defensive stand, somehow managed to sprint the length of the court and deliver a clutch three-pointer that shifted the momentum decisively.

San Miguel found an unexpected hero in the relentless forward, who ignited the Beermen’s comeback from a sluggish start to overpower the TNT Tropang 5G, 96-82, in Game 5 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Friday, Jan. 30.

Brondial’s tireless energy and tenacity set the tone, inspiring his teammates to rally from a daunting 16-point deficit, putting them one victory away from securing the All-Filipino Cup title once again.

The Tropang 5G raced out of the gates with impressive ferocity, establishing a 23-7 lead. However, the Beermen surged back into contention, fueled by Brondial’s unyielding drive and a spark off the bench from Kris Rosales.

Once momentum shifted, the stars of SMB began to shine, with Marcio Lassiter, CJ Perez, and Don Trollano contributing significantly to the scoring effort in the second half.

Brondial was pivotal, netting eight of his team-high 17 points during a crucial second-quarter rally, while also securing 15 rebounds and swatting away two shots.

June Mar Fajardo joined the party with a solid double-double, tallying 14 points and 11 rebounds despite battling an injury scare in the third quarter. Rosales chipped in with 12 points, while Mo Tautuaa and Marcio Lassiter, who had been scoreless in the previous outing, each added 11.

Lassiter was instrumental in igniting a powerful third-quarter surge for SMB, as the Beermen unleashed a 19-5 run that effectively put the game out of reach.

Calvin Oftana led the charge for TNT, scoring 20 points, while Jordan Heading, who had been a spark with 10 points in the scorching first quarter for the Tropang 5G, managed only three more to finish with a total of 13.