MANILA: Doing a far better job in recovering its poise this time, San Miguel Beer on Wednesday night prevented a repeat of a recent collapse against sister team Barangay Ginebra and made their Final Four series in the PBA Governors’ Cup a best-of-three affair.
After bungling leads of large as 16 points in the second quarter, the Beermen played a lot steadier in the crunch and pulled out a 95-92 victory over the Gin Kings for 1-1 in their semifinal series of the season-closing conference at the Araneta Coliseum inm Cubao.
“We learned our lessons in the past game,” coach Leo Austria told reporters, referring to a Game 1 meltdown that had the Gin Kings pulling out a 115-108 victory on Monday night. “We addressed our lapses on defense in that game.”
Elijah Millsap scored 25 points and June Mar Fajardo fired 18 that went with 23 rebounds as the duo led the Beermen not only to the series-equalizing win but also in grabbing momentum heading into the critical third game on Friday night.
San Miguel led biggest at 47-31 late in the second period and seemed ready to cruise to the win, only for the Gin Kings to come out smoking in the third period behind LA Tenorio and import Justin Brownlee as the third quarter closed with the Beermen barely clinging on to the lead, 72-71.
“We knew the importance of winning this game. In a best-of-five, we didn’t want to go 0-2 down,” Austria said. “We didn’t want to be in trouble.”
Alex Cabagnot and Ronald Tubid finished in twin digits and combined for another 23 points for the Beermen, the defending champions who came into the playoffs as the No. 2 seeds and were labeled as the team to beat by Ginebra’s Tim Cone.
“Game 1 was a clear indication that we did not play defense,” Austria went on, referring to the 115 points they gave up. “I hope this win gives us momentum.”
There was never a quit in the Gin Kings as the Beermen again opened up an 88-78 lead after three straight triples going into the last four minutes.
The Kings battled back and made the Beermen bleed for their first victory in the series.
And Cone blames the loss on the sloppy start that his players had.
“I don’t think we started with great focus tonight,” Cone, a two-time Grand Slam winner, said. “As a group, we have to learn to play in a series, we had a hard time figuring them out early.
“My guys battled hard all the way, though.”
After going scoreless in the Game 1 win, Tenorio, as predicted by Cone that same night, had a great game, finishing with 22 to lead all Ginebra shooters with Brownlee firing 18 as the San Miguel defense ganged up on the Best Import race leader all game long.
“I think Game 3 will be a tough one for both of us,” Cone went on. “Guys have to come out with better focus after a win. (After losing Game 2), I think they will come out better for Game 3, because its easier to focus coming from a loss.”
Alex Cabagnot hit 13 points and Ronald Tubid 10 for Austria, who played 10 men, with two of them seeing action for less than a minute.
Fajardo was forced to sit it out in the second period after busting his right eyebrow because of a wayward elbow from teammate Millsap.
But that was when the Beermen broke away and took that 16-point cushion.
“They have a lot of talent,” Cone said when asked why they couldn’t dominated the Beermen with Fajardo on an extended rest. “If it was any other team, when June Mar takes a rest, you heave a sigh of relief.
“With San Miguel, when June Mar went out, it broadens their team because you have to look out for more guys rather than concentrating on June Mar.”
Meanwhile, TNT KaTropa shoots for a commanding 2-0 lead over Meralco Thursday also at the Big Dome.
Game time is 7 p.m. with the Texters bringing the momentum of an authoritative Game 1 victory.
After bungling leads of large as 16 points in the second quarter, the Beermen played a lot steadier in the crunch and pulled out a 95-92 victory over the Gin Kings for 1-1 in their semifinal series of the season-closing conference at the Araneta Coliseum inm Cubao.
“We learned our lessons in the past game,” coach Leo Austria told reporters, referring to a Game 1 meltdown that had the Gin Kings pulling out a 115-108 victory on Monday night. “We addressed our lapses on defense in that game.”
Elijah Millsap scored 25 points and June Mar Fajardo fired 18 that went with 23 rebounds as the duo led the Beermen not only to the series-equalizing win but also in grabbing momentum heading into the critical third game on Friday night.
San Miguel led biggest at 47-31 late in the second period and seemed ready to cruise to the win, only for the Gin Kings to come out smoking in the third period behind LA Tenorio and import Justin Brownlee as the third quarter closed with the Beermen barely clinging on to the lead, 72-71.
“We knew the importance of winning this game. In a best-of-five, we didn’t want to go 0-2 down,” Austria said. “We didn’t want to be in trouble.”
Alex Cabagnot and Ronald Tubid finished in twin digits and combined for another 23 points for the Beermen, the defending champions who came into the playoffs as the No. 2 seeds and were labeled as the team to beat by Ginebra’s Tim Cone.
“Game 1 was a clear indication that we did not play defense,” Austria went on, referring to the 115 points they gave up. “I hope this win gives us momentum.”
There was never a quit in the Gin Kings as the Beermen again opened up an 88-78 lead after three straight triples going into the last four minutes.
The Kings battled back and made the Beermen bleed for their first victory in the series.
And Cone blames the loss on the sloppy start that his players had.
“I don’t think we started with great focus tonight,” Cone, a two-time Grand Slam winner, said. “As a group, we have to learn to play in a series, we had a hard time figuring them out early.
“My guys battled hard all the way, though.”
After going scoreless in the Game 1 win, Tenorio, as predicted by Cone that same night, had a great game, finishing with 22 to lead all Ginebra shooters with Brownlee firing 18 as the San Miguel defense ganged up on the Best Import race leader all game long.
“I think Game 3 will be a tough one for both of us,” Cone went on. “Guys have to come out with better focus after a win. (After losing Game 2), I think they will come out better for Game 3, because its easier to focus coming from a loss.”
Alex Cabagnot hit 13 points and Ronald Tubid 10 for Austria, who played 10 men, with two of them seeing action for less than a minute.
Fajardo was forced to sit it out in the second period after busting his right eyebrow because of a wayward elbow from teammate Millsap.
But that was when the Beermen broke away and took that 16-point cushion.
“They have a lot of talent,” Cone said when asked why they couldn’t dominated the Beermen with Fajardo on an extended rest. “If it was any other team, when June Mar takes a rest, you heave a sigh of relief.
“With San Miguel, when June Mar went out, it broadens their team because you have to look out for more guys rather than concentrating on June Mar.”
Meanwhile, TNT KaTropa shoots for a commanding 2-0 lead over Meralco Thursday also at the Big Dome.
Game time is 7 p.m. with the Texters bringing the momentum of an authoritative Game 1 victory.
