After powering his way to 33 points in putting San Miguel Beer up 2-1 in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals with a 108-88 win, June Mar Fajardo insists that TNT remains a tough cookie to crack despite being hit with another shortage in manpower.

“They’re still tough, even without Poy (Erram),” Fajardo said in Filipino after the Beermen won a second straight game on Friday against the Tropang 5G that played minus Erram due to a right ankle sprain sustained two nights ago.

Fajardo managed to get his scoring numbers despite facing Kelly Williams, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Henry Galinato in the paint as San Miguel fashioned out the authoritative victory after its other weapons like Chris Ross, Jericho Cruz, Don Trollano and Mo Tautuaa sparked a pull away after the break.

TNT had no answer for San Miguel, though the Tropang 5G threatened to rally in the fourth behind the hot-shooting of seldom-used Almond Vosotros. They now face a must-win outing in Game 4 on Sunday to keep their Grand Slam hopes afloat.

That game is slated at SM Mall of Asia Arena, with Erram’s status still a question mark after twisting his ankle in Game 2. Erram was said to have opted out of taking part in Thursday’s practice and was seen wearing a protective boot when he watched the game from the bench.

“There’s always a surprise,” said coach Leo Austria when asked of San Miguel’s preparation with Erram’s injury hovering. “Unfortunately for them, he was not able to play, but he was always included in our preparation, even [Rey] Nambatac who is not on the playoff roster.”

Vosotros scored 11 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter, but the Tropang 5G couldn’t close in after cutting the Beermen’s gap to seven twice.

San Miguel gained the driver seat for the first time in the championship series that started in a frustrating way when Tautuaa’s dunk that could have potentially secured a Game 1 win was nullified due to a basket interference call following a review by the league’s technical committee.

While the controversy has been slowly dissipating, the technical committee table noticeably didn’t have the presence of deputy commissioner Eric Castro and referees supervisor Bong Pascual. The two held the press conference to explain the decision surrounding Tautuaa’s infraction.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial didn’t specify why the two were not in their usual seats, though present in the table were technical committee members Joey Guanio, Junior Bengua and Rosc Teotico plus a “Class-A referee” who was not assigned for the game.

Meanwhile, Marcial and corporate secretary Ogie Narvasa bared that Terrafirma will remain with the league for the 50th season after talks to sell the franchise to the owners of the Zamboanga Valientes fell through.

Marcial and Narvasa explained during halftime that the two parties made a “mutual decision” to forego the potential sale as they couldn’t agree on separate requirements asked by one side and the other.