Defending Commissioner’s Cup champions San Miguel Beermen were figuring in a close game against the Barangay Ginebra Kings, Wednesday evening.
The series was heating up, as the two squads almost came to blows last Sunday. It was bound to get physical. And it did in Game Three, as both Chris Ross and Renaldo Balkman suffered cuts during the game.
Greg Slaughter accidentally hit Balkman with 5:12 left in the second quarter, who sustained cut on the left side of his left eyebrow. Then with just 25.8 ticks left in the same quarter, Balkman accidentally clocked Chris Ross, that resulted in a huge gash on the Filipino-American guard’s forehead.
As the half ended, San Miguel were clinging to a 53-51 lead.
“I think that’s one thing na could be a turning point, after two of my players got hit on the forehead and the eyebrow,” recalled San Miguel head coach Leo Austria.
Seeing blood might have lit a fire under the two stalwarts.
The duo dominated the Gin Kings on all fronts during the decisive third canto. Ross scored nine of his 23 points during that span, spiked by three triples. Balkman, on the other hand, went 6-of-7 from the field during that same span for 13 of his 28 points.
“They saw blood, and I think that’s one thing,” added Austria.
“Nangyari sa kanila, dahil para silang mga hayop na nasugatan, lalong tumatapang eh.”
San Miguel came out with a 132-94 win to gain the series lead.
But for now, both Balkman and Ross will have to celebrate the win later on, as they are headed to the hospital to get stitched up.
“It feels good, actually. I just couldn’t stop the bleeding. It’s so big, it’s so deep, and it’s bleeding non-stop. As far as pain goes, there is no pain. It’s pretty ugly gash, though,” shared Ross.
“A little war wound. I’m okay. We gotta get stitched up,” added Balkman.
