San Miguel Beer outlasts Talk ‘N Text in a squeaker
Manila Philippines - Alex Cabagnot made the deciding point at the free throw line after a foul from Talk ‘N Text rookie Matt Ganuelas-Rosser with 9.2 ticks left to lift the San Miguel Beer into a 96-95 victory over the Tropang Texters and grabbed a 3-0 advantage in the PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinals at the Mall of Asia Arena Tuesday night.
The Beermen rallied from a 55-49 deficit at the half and temporarily controlled the momentum at the third quarter. Marcio Lassiter rallied the Texters when he drilled in back-to-back three’s to the surprise of the Tropang Texters in the same quarter. Lassiter finished 17 points, 12 in the third, before he was fouled out with 48.3 seconds left in the fourth.
TNT’s Jayson Castro even up the game at 95 with 48.3 left. But the Beermen prevailed through Cabagnot’s free throw.
Arwind Santos made his defensive stand in the next play in stopping Ranidel Ocampo’s jumper that could have delivered the victor for Talk ‘N Text if it went in. Santos contributed also in the offense with his 23 points which includes a three-pointer in the last two minutes.
Center June Mar Fajardo scored 18 points and nine rebounds to make his impact in the game for the Beermen.
Talk ‘N Text had recovered by the strong early third quarter of the Beermen to end it at 76-75 going to the fourth. However, the Beermen had powerful fourth quarter to start with Cabagnot’s four-point play.
Ranidel De Ocampo was the leading scorer for the Tropang Texters while Jayson Castro added 15 points. Jimmy Alapag scored 11 points in a losing cause.
In the history of the PBA, there’s no team that rallied from 0-3 deficit in the series. San Miguel Beer has to take the series one game at a time to get back.
“I was expecting Talk ‘N Text to come out stronger and it happened. We weren’t able to have a good start but I told my players that ‘we should not lose our composure and let’s keep attacking them,’” said SMB head coach Leo Austria after the game.
