Game Today
(Mall of Asia Arena)
7 p.m. – San Miguel vs TNT
(Series tied 3-3)
It just gave us confidence – SMB’s Ross.
We expect an all-out game – TNT’s Racela.
The San Miguel Beermen refused to embrace the role of favorites as they dispute a place in the finals against TNT KaTropa tonight in the deciding game of their PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series at the Mall of Asia Arena.
San Miguel forced the 7 p.m. duel after rallying a 12-point third quarter deficit to beat TNT, 104-88. The victory has put the Beermen at an advantage, given their capability of erasing series deficit – particularly the historic 0-3 comeback against the Alaska Aces in last year’s Philippine Cup finals.
However, the Beermen said that it will be easier said than done, as they are bracing for another difficult encounter with a KaTropa side that made what was expected to be a cakewalk into a battle of attrition.
Still, their “Beeracle” comeback last season has given San Miguel the experience and motivation as it plays TNT one more time.
“If anything, it just gives us confidence,” said Beermen guard Chris Ross. “It’s kind of similar to Game Four of the finals (against Alaska) when we’re down and we had to crawl back.
“So…just like I said before, our team, we’ve been through everything, so any situation you put us in, we’ve been in it, so we don’t panic, and we just talk to each other and say, ‘hey, man, let’s turn it up, let’s go, and let’s play.’ It just works out for us, man.”
San Miguel’s profound forward Arwind Santos gave a glimpse of what Game 7 could look like.
“Ngayon, parehas kami ng nakikita. Mag-uuanahan kami ngayon, magtutulakan,” said Santos. “Lahat gagawin na. Bahala na. Magkikita kami sa dead-end kung sino makakapanik.”
Many are still forgetting that TNT has been in this situation in past, namely their veterans like Jayson Castro, Ranidel de Ocampo, Ryan Reyes, Larry Fonacier and Kelly Williams – who as a group won multiple titles in the early part of this decade.
A cause of concern, though, is the condition of Castro, who spent the final seven minutes of the game on the bench after hurting his left leg. Castro and the rest of TNT downplayed his injury, saying the cunning guard will be ready to go.
The KaTropa expect to have sophomore big man Troy Rosario back after tying the knot at the same time as Game 6.
Rosario’s absence was hardly felt, for at least in the second half, when TNT led 59-47 before San Miguel unleashed a big rally behind Santos, RR Garcia and June Mar Fajardo.
“We expect both teams to go all out. So regardless of who’s available or not,” said TNT coach Nash Racela, eyeing to become the first rookie coach to reach the finals since current San Miguel team manager Gee Abanilla did it in the 2013 Governors’ Cup for the Beermen, then known as Petron.
