Beermen eye even stronger Game 4 response
San Miguel Beer refused to begin its vacation plans on Tuesday, taking the first step on a long road back from a 0-2 deficit against Barangay Ginebra in the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals in Dasmariñas, Cavite.
Avoiding a sweep before a big crowd at City of Dasmariñas Arena came as a relief, but June Mar Fajardo believes the Beermen can still raise their game after finally getting on the board in the best-of-five series.
“If we can still [do better than] the way we played tonight, then we will do it,” Fajardo said after San Miguel’s 101-98 victory. “For sure, Ginebra will do all it can to close out the series, but we will also do what we can to extend the series.”
The Beermen finally shook off the sluggish form that allowed Ginebra to dominate the first two games, frustrating a crowd hoping to see the Gin Kings advance to the semifinals against TNT Tropang 5G.
But San Miguel had other ideas, with Fajardo posting 18 points and 13 rebounds while import George King scored 22 after being held to just 13 in Game 2, which the Beermen lost by 27 points.
“He’s trying his best to be a team player,” coach Leo Austria said of King’s struggles and Game 3 contribution. “Sometimes because of his status as an import, he wants to prove something to the point that he’s forcing shots.”
“But he’s learning those things, and he keeps talking to his teammates about what to do. He’s also asking what [he needs] to improve [on], especially on defense because [he’s coming from] a different culture and system [and] from a different team and he still has those [old] habits. It’s not a bad habit, but he’s trying his best to adjust with the team.”
Game 4 is set for Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum, where San Miguel will try to deny Ginebra a second chance to close out the series and force a deciding fifth game.
If necessary, Game 5 will be played Tuesday at Ynares Center in Antipolo.
“I hope we sustain what we started here,” Austria said. “Imagine, we lost by 27; it was unimaginable for us.”
“But the players showed their sense of urgency, and they refused to lose,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ginebra coach Tim Cone rued a missed opportunity to complete the sweep after the Gin Kings rallied from 15 points down and nearly stole the win, or forced overtime at the very least, in the closing seconds.
Scottie Thompson missed a running three-pointer, while RJ Abarrientos failed to convert a 4-point attempt that could have completed Ginebra’s comeback and sealed a semifinal berth.
