SAN Miguel Beer aims to carry its newfound momentum and, in the process, set its own trend when it battles Barangay Ginebra Friday in their PBA Governors' Cup semifinals series at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The Beermen are hoping to follow up their resounding 131-121 victory last Wednesday, that evened up the best-of-seven series at two games apiece, while breaking the Kings' tendency to repeatedly seize the upper hand in the duel.
"Sana that thing doesn't follow anymore," said SMB coach Jorge Gallent, referring to the combatants' alternating wins thus far.
"I just hope we change the tide in Friday's game. Now nga, it's a best-of-three na lang so we'll just think of it na Game 1 'yung Friday," added Gallent. "In a best-of-three, Game 1 is very important, so I just hope tradition breaks on Friday."
If SMB manages to replicate its Game 4 performance, which propelled it to as much as a 122-102 lead, then Ginebra should be in for a very long night anew.
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The Beermen shot 54 percent from the field, including 13-of-30 from long distance for a high of 43 percent, and dominated the boards, 50-35, to emerge with a plus-14 advantage in points off the paint and plus-8 in second chance points.
Also, six of the eight players fielded in by Gallent scored in double figures, led by June Mar Fajardo's 29, import EJ Anosike's 27, and CJ Perez's 20.
Even Don Trollano came off the bench for 15 points, a far cry from the measly three points he delivered in the two previous series games he has played in.
"They were firing on all cylinders. We had no answer for them. They were hitting shots from the outside, they were getting to the rim, getting the ball to June Mar. We just didn't have an answer for them tonight," said Ginebra coach Tim Cone after Game 4.
"They're just too good for us tonight," added Cone. "Basically, it's back to the drawing boards and we'll figure it out what we could do better next time around."
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Ginebra resident import Justin Brownlee actually led all scorers with 49 points on top of nine rebounds and five assists. But he himself admitted it is on the other end of the court which his team needs to put extra work on.
"I feel like both teams came ready to play, but I felt our defense is not acceptable," said Brownlee. "We're a team, we pride ourselves on defense. It's not like us. It's not like where we want to be." (NC)
