What was once a joyful Game 7 conquest of sister team Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings quickly turned into a nightmare for the San Miguel Beermen. The Beermen were hit with a barrage of 3-pointers and 4-pointers from the Grand Slam-seeking TNT Tropang 5G and were in big hole.
Teams trailing in the postseason by 20 or more points in the latter parts of the second half would normally throw in the towel and look toward the next game. Thankfully, the Beermen were able to take the Gin Kings’ Never-Say-Die spirit with them.
SMB turned the tables on the Tropang 5G, putting the clamps on defense and going on a 19-0 run in the fourth quarter that earned them a slim lead. However, a controversial basket interference call marred the end of what would have been a mini-Beeracle.
The call itself, the timing, and the ramifications will be the subject of debates in the coming days, but if there’s anything that San Miguel can take from this heartbreaking defeat, it’s the grit they showed.
Initially, it seemed it would have been better if Beermen head coach Leo Austria rested his key players in the fourth quarter, but credit to him and SMB for continuing to fight on. They may have found some tactics that would help them in the series, but beyond that and erasing a 24-point lead, San Miguel managed to remove any air of confidence TNT had of coasting to a grand slam.
June Mar Fajardo was a WARRIOR, battling down low for points and rebounds while providing the stability on offense that helped spark the Beermen’s big run. Not even an injured calf and hamstring could slow down the eight-time PBA MVP and perhaps his missed layup in the last few minutes could have averted the loss (or not).
A resurgent Chris Ross continues to serve as the tip of the spear for SMB’s defense. He continues to make crucial defensive stops and his teammates followed his lead during San Miguel’s critical run. Ross has been playing sparingly in recent conferences partly due to the emergence of his younger teammates, but perhaps he is saving for moments like these, where a championship is hanging in the balance and there is a greater need for him to step up.
Going forward, though, the Beermen would prefer to choose their battles or get this series over with quickly. SMB has a roster on the latter end of 30 and conserving energy and limiting wear-and-tear will be critical in climbing out of a 1-0 series hole.
However, what was once looking like a momentum-building statement victory for the TNT Tropang 5G turned into a great escape for them. The San Miguel Beermen might as well chalk it up as somewhat of a win given how they stormed back and were a rim pull away from stealing Game 1.
Heartbreaking as this defeat may be, there are things they can take away and apply for the rest of the series. One win won’t define the series, but it could surely open the door to opportunities that could determine the outcome.
