It’s back to square one for the sister teams as San Miguel stopped Ginebra from inching closer to the Big Dance following a 107-82 victory in Game 4 of their PBA Philippine Cup semifinal clash, Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Having learned their lesson from last Sunday, the Beermen seized control in the third quarter with an overwhelming 17-0 run. That flipped a slim two-point Kings lead to a 73-58 advantage approaching the period’s last five minutes, never to let up.
SMB produced a total of 30 points in the said frame behind a near-perfect outing, thanks to their stifling defense. It has reduced the best-of-7 affair to a virtual best-of-3 as the traditional contenders are now tied at two games apiece.
(C) PBA Images
“It’s very obvious that the energy of the team was really high,” said Coach Leo Austria. “We’re able to match their energy and a lot of our perimeter shooting went in … and defense was one thing na binigyan namin ng pansin.”
Five players scored in twin digits in the rout, with CJ Perez leading the way with 19 points, which he laced with five rebounds and seven assists.
Juami Tiongson supplied 14 points. June Mar Fajardo, who still chooses to play through a calf injury, finished with 12 points and 19 rebounds.
Rodney Brondial and Jericho Cruz produced 12 points each as well, while Don Trollano chipped in 11 in the triumph that saw San Miguel hit 14 threes.
“I saw from the players from the start, from the dugout, nakita ko ‘yung kanilang body language, na this team will really play tonight,” Austria said.
(C) PBA Images
Leading Ginebra in the defeat, on the other hand, was Troy Rosario with his 14 points and seven rebounds. Jamie Malonzo added 12 points.
Scottie Thompson made 11 points in a very rare zero-rebound outing while Japeth Aguilar chipped in 10 markers. The quartet carried much of the load after RJ Abarrientos got checked by the opposing defense.
After starring in Game 3 with 24 points in a near triple-double, the rookie point guard was held to only nine points on 3-of-7 shooting from the floor.
Game 5 is set on Friday, July 4, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores:
San Miguel 107 – Perez 19, Tiongson 14, Fajardo 12, Brondial 12, Cruz 12, Trollano 11, Teng 9, Lassiter 6, Ross 5, Rosales 3, Tautuaa 2, Calma 2, Cahilig 0
Ginebra 82 – Rosario 14, Malonzo 12, Thompson 11, J.Aguilar 10, Abarrientos 9, Ahanmisi 7, Holt 5, Pinto 4, Tenorio 4, R.Aguilar 4, Gray 2, Cu 0, David 0
Quarterscores: 24-26, 50-51, 80-63, 107-82.
