by Jonas Terrado
Game Today (Cuneta Astrodome)
7 p.m. – Phoenix Pulse vs San Miguel
(San Miguel leads series 3-1)
Defending champion San Miguel Beer tries to go for the kill against Phoenix Pulse and advance to its fifth straight PBA Philippine Cup Finals appearance in Game 5 of their best-of-seven semifinals at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The Beermen take a crack at clinching the series at 7 p.m. and secure a place in the PBA’s grandest stage for the eighth time in the last 13 conferences.
But for SMB to return to familiar surroundings, it will need to hurdle another rugged affair which could intensify after multiple ejections and technicals marred the Beermen’s 114-91 win on Tuesday at the same venue.
A similar first half performance may also help the Beermen as seen in Game 4 when Arwind Santos and Chris Ross atoned from their miscues in the previous outing and led a breakaway before halftime with five triples.
“We have a great advantage against Phoenix and our goal is to have another good start,” said Beermen coach Leo Austria.
Phoenix, meanwhile, is looking to take a first step in becoming the fifth team to come back from a 3-1 deficit in a best-of-seven playoffs.
Fuel Masters coach Louie Alas, who lamented his team’s concentration of playing mind game with little to no success, has refused to throw the white towel.
“Sabi ko sa kanila kung may balak kayong magbakasyon, ako last thing na gagawin ko is mag-give up (The last thing I’ll do is to give up.”),” Alas declared.
Alas is hoping that Calvin Abueva can play with little restraint this time while Matthew Wright is determined to atone for his 3-of-14 shooting.
Wright’s struggles came after San Miguel pulled a gambit with Matt Ganuelas-Rosser as his defender.
Ganuelas-Rosser played a major role in the win, finishing with eight points, six rebounds, seven assists and five steals.
Meanwhile, Magnolia and Rain or Shine were disputing the pivotal 3-2 lead in Game 5 of their own semis series being played at presstime at the Astrodome.
The winner will attempt to secure the series victory in Friday’s sixth game at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
