TNT’s bid of closing out San Miguel to clinch the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup championship got spoiled by, ironically, one of its former players.
Simon Enciso did not allow the Tropang Giga to stage a coronation of sorts on Friday night, turning in his best performance to help the Beermen send the title series to a Game Seven by way of a masterful 114-96 triumph.
The 31-year-old gunner fired 20 points on 58.3-percent shooting from the floor, highlighted by an impressive 6-of-11 clip from three-point distance as he chose the most opportune time to erupt — and prove his worth to SMB.
“I just came into the game with the same mentality: Shoot the ball when I’m open,” offered Enciso moments after the blowout at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Luckily, my hard work paid off, and I hit some shots tonight.”
The journeyman, though, didn’t hug the spotlight all to himself. He couldn’t be any prouder of San Miguel as a whole for the performance they put together, most especially their long-time sniper Marcio Lassiter.
The 35-year-old guard rifled in 22 markers on six triples for easily his best game of the series thus far, doubling his scoring average across the first five outings.
“I told him it was super huge, both of us going crazy from the three-point line,” said Enciso as SMB as a whole made 16 treys.
“It is kind of hard to beat a team with two shooters going crazy. Shoutout to Marcio, he played a hell of a game as well,” he added.
Enciso is still considered one of the new faces in the Beermen and like some of the others, he’s now bound for his first-ever Finals Game Seven.
Going to the finale is nothing new to him since he’s had appearances while with Alaska and then TNT before, but both of those trips did not go this far.
It will be a whole new experience for him on Sunday but the seven-year pro from California is far from daunted by the challenge ahead.
“I play like it’s a Game Seven every game,” said Enciso, who’s aiming to win his first PBA championship. “My effort will always be there.
“I just try to control what I can control and Imma do the same thing on Sunday. Whether shots fall or they go in, I’m going to give the same effort every time.”
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The second game of each PBA gameday is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
