PASIG CITY — In the high-stakes theater of the PBA, sometimes the most complicated problems have the simplest solutions: put the ball in the hands of Don Trollano.
With the game on the line and the clock ticking toward a potential upset, Trollano cemented his reputation as one of the league’s most reliable finishers, sinking a baseline jumper at the horn to lift the San Miguel Beermen over a gritty Terrafirma Dyip, 113-112, on Sunday night.
The final play wasn’t necessarily a scripted masterpiece. With only seconds remaining and the Beermen trailing by one, the ball found its way to Trollano in the corner. Despite the suffocating pressure of the Dyip defense, “The Precision” stayed cool, rose for the shot, and watched the ball splash through the net as the red light illuminated the backboard.
“There was no doubt,” San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent said after the game, praising Trollano’s composure. “When Don got the ball in that spot, we knew he had the legs and the heart to take that shot. He’s been in these situations before, and he never blinks.”
The victory saved the Beermen from what would have been a massive collapse. San Miguel held a comfortable lead for much of the second half, but the Dyip—led by the explosive scoring of Juami Tiongson—refused to go quietly, staging a furious fourth-quarter rally that nearly stole the game.
Trollano finished the night with 15 points, but none were more significant than the final two. His heroics complemented a massive double-double from June Mar Fajardo, who anchored the paint with 28 points and 14 rebounds.
For San Miguel, the win is more than just another notch in the standings; it’s a testament to their “never-say-die” championship DNA. While the Dyip proved they can compete with the league’s giants, the Beermen proved they still know how to close the door when it matters most.
As the San Miguel faithful erupted in cheers at the PhilSports Arena, the message was clear: in the dying seconds of a close game, the safest bet in the building is often Don Trollano.