Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 30) — Rain poured heavily outside the Big Dome on Friday night, but little did the TNT KaTropa know that the gloom would follow them inside the venue.
The San Miguel Beermen grabbed the crucial 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup Finals series in Game 5 against TNT, 111-102, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Arwind Santos and Alex Cabagnot led the way for San Miguel with 28 and 26 points, respectively.
After a well contested first quarter, which saw the Beermen take a slim 29-26 advantage, the KaTropa decided to showcase their range.
In the second frame, the KaTropa hit eight three-point bombs to outscore San Miguel 35-17 in the period.
At the end of the first half, Ranidel de Ocampo and Kris Rosales buried six of the 11 made three pointers to give TNT a 61-46 advantage.
The break was all the Beermen needed, as they went on a 20-4 tear to regain the lead 66-65 with 5:46 left before the payoff period.
A Chris Ross triple gave San Miguel the slight 82-79 edge heading into the final frame
The Beermen looked to have the game wrapped up at the three minute mark of the final quarter, holding a 107-95 lead over the KaTropa. But TNT managed to claw back and reduce the deficit to 107-102 with 1:20 left on the clock.
That was as close as TNT would come, as the Beermen held on to take the crucial victory.
De Ocampo paced TNT with 19 markers.
It was a spirited comeback fOR the Beermen, and San Miguel head coach Leo Austria praised his team’s resilience on the defensive end.
“Marami nagsasabi na defense wins championships, and yan yung pinakita nila,” Austria said.
The San Miguel Beermen have the chance to clinch the Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday also at the Big Dome.
