SMB guns for PBA PH Cup crown

July 23 ------ SAN Miguel Beer (SMB) looks to finish off TNT’s grand slam hopes and capture the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup crown as both squads collide in Game 5 of their Finals series today at the Araneta Coliseum. The Beermen took a commanding 3-1 series lead behind their 105-91 win on Sunday. Game 5 kicks off at 7:30 p.m.

SMB coach Leo Austria said the Beermen may have won the last three games since opening the title series with a controversial 99-96 loss. But he had reminded his wards not to be complacent, and instead, pressed on, knowing that the injury-ravaged TNT five won’t go down without a fight. “We don’t want to be complacent [even] with that 3-1 [lead],” said Austria, who is eyeing his 10th league title since becoming SMB’s head coach in 2015.

TNT, which ruled the Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup, now faces elimination and will have to dig deep into its bench considering the injuries that have hit the team all tournament long. Jayson Castro and Rey Nambatac have long been out for the remainder of the season due to their knee and groin injuries.

Roger Pogoy and Kelly Williams missed several games during the semis due to hamstring and ankle injuries, while mercurial big man Poy Erram is the Tropang 5G’s latest casualty after suffering from hamstring tear. The 6-foot-8 Erram bravely played through a high ankle sprain in Game 4 as he tried his best to contribute for TNT’s cause, finishing with six points, four rebounds and one block. But his limited mobility, and the apparent effort to favor his ankle, led to the hamstring injury last Sunday.

Game 4 makes Erram’s presence doubtful, leaving TNT with just Williams and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser as the remaining big men, while coach Chot Reyes might have to play seldom-used reserve slot man Henry Galinato as well as the Tropang 5G try to survive. Of course, TNT’s biggest thorn remains to be SMB’s star slot man June Mar Fajardo, who on Sunday captured his 12th Best Player of the Conference award.

The 35-year-old Fajardo has been a one-man wrecking crew inside. And with TNT’s personnel issues, the Cebuano slot man is expected to dominate the shaded lane even more as the Beermen gun for their 11th All-Filipino title. San Miguel is aching to regain the All-Filipino crown it lost last season after bowing to Meralco in six games in the Finals. A win on Wednesday completes SMB’s redemption tour after missing the playoffs in the Commissioner’s Cup.

Source: manilatimes.net