By JONAS TERRADO
Game Sunday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
6:30 p.m. – SMB vs Magnolia
(Series tied 1-1)
Defending champion San Miguel Beermen held another big lead last night but this time avoided another colossal meltdown in the fourth quarter and defeated the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok, 92-77, and tie at 1-1 their PBA Philippine Cup Finals series at the Mall of Asia Arena.
San Miguel’s crack starting five, composed of June Mar Fajardo, Arwind Santos, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross and Alex Cabagnot, played almost beyond everyone’s expectations while getting help from reserves Matt Ganuelas-Rosser and Brian Heruela to even the series while regaining a bit of momentum after a heartbreaking 105-103 loss in Friday’s series opener that saw the Beermen squander a 20-point third quarter lead.
Behind the seven players coach Leo Austria used with success, the Beermen held two 21-point leads in the third but almost put themselves in danger of suffering another collapse when the Hotshots scored 11 unanswered points at the start of the fourth, reducing the gap to eight, 75-67, on a rookie Robbie Herndon’s basket with 8:22 left.
Santos’ however played the fireman’s role by nailing a three-pointer on the ensuing play that ignited a 10-0 run. June Mar Fajardo and Chris Ross made back-to-back baskets in the shaded lane before Lassiter connected on a triple for 85-67 with 4:49 to play, virtually ending the competitive phase of the match witnessed by a Palm Sunday crowd of 10,558.
“I have to give credit to the players dahil nakita ko sa kanila na ayaw nilang magpatalo,” said Austria. “They were disappointed and frustrated dun sa first game namin and nakanti yung pride ng mga players e at makikita mo na ayaw nilang mag give-in.”
San Miguel and Magnolia break their tie on Easter Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum as the series takes a week-long break in observance of the Lenten season.
Santos topscored for the Beermen with 24 points while adding eight rebounds.
Scores:
SAN MIGUEL 92 – Santos 24, Lassiter 16, Cabagnot 15, Fajardo 12, Heruela 10, Ganuelas-Rosser 6, Ross 5, Mamaril 4, De Ocampo 0, Vigil 0.
MAGNOLIA 77 – Barroca 18, Lee 13, Sangalang 11, Dela Rosa 7, Ramos 7, Jalalon 6, Pascual 4, Reavis 4, Brondial 3, Herndon 2, Simon 2, Mendoza 0.
Quarters: 19-17; 48-35; 75-57; 92-77.
