PBA: Jeron Teng steps up, San Miguel ties semis series after fending off Ginebra in Game 2

MANILA, January 8 ------ After not playing in the first game, Jeron Teng rose to the occasion and helped San Miguel knot the series at 1-1 against Ginebra in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Semifinals. Teng, as well as nine-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo, towed the Beermen past Ginebra in Game 2, 93-84 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Fajardo first anchored Beermen's comeback in the third quarter, as their side outscored Tim Cone's wards in that frame, 31-21, with the big man also giving their side the taste of the lead at the 64-61 mark with a completion of an and-one. Before that, they erased a 10-point deficit early in the third canto, also thanks to Marcio Lassiter's threes that kept them in the game. With the momentum shifting entirely to the Beermen's side, the guard out of De La Salle University then punched his shots in the fourth frame to sustain their lead, scoring 12 of his 13 points in that period to keep Ginebra at bay and nail Game 2 for themselves.

Coach Leo Austria admitted guilt after not playing Teng in the series opener, while lauding the gunner's readiness to step up. "Pure guts para kay Jeron 'yung fourth quarter, kasi first game I was not able to use him because of something in my mind. I felt... guilty na guilty ako nung first game, 'di ko siya nagamit," said Austria during the postgame press conference. Teng added five rebounds and three assists to his total and defended the Ginebra guards on the floor, earning Player of the Game nod. Fajardo, the consistent icon for San Miguel, dropped a 21-23 statline on Ginebra's head, shooting on 8-of-11 from the field.

Don Trollano contributed 12 points and five rebounds, while CJay Perez and Jericho Cruz had their moments, chipping in 11 each for Austria. On the other hand, Ginebra's eight-game winning run, which spanned since the eliminations, came to a halt. Stephen Holt and RJ Abarrientos had 18 points each for the losing cause, while Norbert Torres had 10 markers.

The Scores:

SAN MIGUEL 93 – Fajardo 21, Teng 13, Trollano 12, Cruz 11, Perez 11, Lassiter 9, Tautuaa 6, Ross 4, Brondial 4, Cahilig 2, Tiongson 0, Rosales 0

GINEBRA 84 – Holt 18, Abarrientos 18, Torres 10, Rosario 9, Thompson 9, J.Aguilar 8, David 4, Cu 3, Gray 3, Adamos 2, Estil 0, Pinto 0

QUARTERS: 12-19, 34-42, 65-63, 93-84

Source: news.abs-cbn.com