Coach Leo Austria said that San Miguel Beer’s talented bank felt the urge to step in a great way with the limited mobility of June Mar Fajardo because of a calf injury.
“When we heard that June Mar will have managed or play the minutes, depending on my discretion, every player thought they had to perform,” said Austria after the beans returned to Barangay Ginebra with a 100-83 routine on Friday in Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The victory resisted the collapse of San Miguel in Game 1, despite an 18-point lead and brought the best-of-sifher semi-final series in the PBA Philippine Cup on 1-1, behind veteran Marcio Lassiter, Big Man Mo Tautuaa and Back-up guard Kris Rosales.
Lassiter dropped eight of his 16 points in the first quarter that set the tone for the batteries, Tautuaa picked up the play with Fajardo and only played 17 minutes and placed 10 points and 10 rebounds, while some of Rosales ’13 points came when they had to deaf to deaf to deaf to deaf to another rally.
Behind them, San Miguel was almost in cruise control and Fajardo also gave some time to rest in the midst of a calf problem that bothered him in game 1.
“We always say that the power of the team with June is Mar,” said Austria in Filipin. “But don’t forget, the power of June Mar is his teammates, and it was clear in this game.”
Fajardo had two points and seven rebounds in limited action, while Austria chose to put him on the bench and put Tautuaa on the Pivot.
Tautuaa was praised by Austria because he felt that his presence enabled San Miguel to withstand the dilemma of Fajardo’s injury.
Despite the victory, the status of Fajardo will still play a factor for the rest of the series, including Game 3 from Sunday in Smart Araneta Coliseum when they break their 1-1 draw.
Ginebra struggled in his failed bid to design a 2-0 advantage, with Stephen Holt as the only starter in double digits with 17 points. Scottie Thompson ended with only nine points and six rebounds.
In the meantime, TNT strived to make it two in a row over rain or sunshine in the other semi -final series that is played at the time of the press.
The Tropang 5G came from a 98-91 victory in SM Mall of Asia Arena last Wednesday, and another victory will shy them in a shy to reach the final, the last obstacle in their historic Grand Slam-Bid.
Rain or shine, embracing the Underdog label, aimed for a split of the first two games.
Welditer left two triples to set up a 12-3 start for the beans, and that Burst had an effect on the entire team that just played the rest of the road efficiently.
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The three -point shooter of the competition later credited the number of San Miguel players in double digit, and said it was able to exert pressure on the [Ginebra] Defense ”after a low scoring Semis opener.
Don Trollano added 14 points, while Rosales had important baskets when Ginebra reduced the opening in the third to nine. Jericho Cruz and CJ Perez, on the other hand, have added 11 each.
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