San Miguel Beer leaned on its second unit and a renewed defensive edge to overpower TNT, 111-92, and level the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals at one game apiece on Friday, January 23, at the Ynares Center.

The Beermen erased the sting of their Game 1 loss by flipping the script on both ends, controlling tempo early and never allowing the Tropang 5G to build momentum as the series shifted back to even footing.

Trollano ignites bench surge

Don Trollano delivered a sharp response after a quiet series opener, unloading a game-high 22 points to headline a massive showing from the SMB bench. San Miguel’s reserves poured in 58 points, more than double their output from Game 1, giving the Beermen steady firepower throughout the night.

Trollano set the tone early alongside Juami Tiongson as the two keyed a first-quarter break that opened a double-digit gap. He stayed aggressive after halftime, answering TNT’s brief push in the third period and keeping San Miguel comfortably in front heading into the final frame.

Defense flips the series

San Miguel’s defensive focus proved just as decisive as its scoring depth, holding TNT to only 33 points over the first two quarters. The Beermen also dominated the boards, reversing the rebounding battle after being outworked in the series opener.

Head coach Leo Austria pointed to energy and effort as the biggest difference, noting how the bench’s production allowed the Beermen to sustain pressure while tightening up defensively. The renewed intensity translated into cleaner possessions and limited second chances for TNT.

TNT struggled to find consistent offense as Rey Nambatac paced the Tropang 5G with 17 points, while several Game 1 contributors were kept in check. With the series now tied, both teams head into the next matchup searching for control in what has quickly turned into a momentum-driven Finals.