Chris McCullough erupted for 51 big points in Game Three of the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals between the San Miguel Beermen and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, Wednesday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
But unfortunately, it will only be remembered as a performance gone to waste, as SMB lost, 104-112.
Big scoring explosions like these could be cause for concern, especially on a playoff stage. But for Rain or Shine’s Beau Belga, it’s all fine for them, as long as the other players are not contributing.
That was exactly the case in Game Three. Only Alex Cabagnot and Christian Standhardinger provided support to McCullough with 16 and 14 points, respectively. The other usual providers? Well, they got limited.
June Mar Fajardo only had eight points and four rebounds. Chris Ross – who went off for a career-high 34 points built on 10 three-pointers in Game Two – had just six markers this time around. Meanwhile, Arwind Santos laid a big fat egg.
“Kung umiskor yung isang tao na ganun and limited iba, okay lang sa”min,” said Belga, who had 16 points in the win. “‘Di naman kayang talunin ng isang tao yung lima eh.
“Ang kagandahan, ‘di pumutok si Chris Ross, si June Mar limited.”
“Sinolo nung import, solohin niya na lang ulit next game para masaya,” added the 6-foot-6 slotman jokingkly with a grin.
Game Four is on Friday, August 2, still at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. And if McCullough puts on another high-scoring act, Belga says they’re willing to take it so long as the rest aren’t factors.
“Kung umiskor siya ng sixty tapos panalo kami, salamat ulit. ‘Di, yun na naman yun eh, five-on-five game ‘to eh. You need to involve everybody,” quipped Belga.
“Next game, kung seventy score niya okay lang, basta two points yung iba.”
