BIG BOUNCE BACK
Jeron Teng’s unlikely starring role in San Miguel Beer’s 93-84 victory over Barangay Ginebra that tied their PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series at 1-1 typified the huge role the Beermen’s bench played on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Teng had 13 points, five rebounds and four assists in 15 minutes, providing energy on both ends of the floor, to help lead San Miguel’s bounce-back effort following a 99-90 defeat that opened their best-of-seven affair three nights earlier.
“My mentality is to just be ready whenever my number is called,” Teng said after failing to suit up in Game 1 that left coach Leo Austria expressing “guilt” for his lack of foresight.
Timely baskets plus his effort in defending RJ Abarrientos or Scottie Thompson enabled San Miguel to pull away in the fourth and complete a comeback win after Ginebra looked primed for a second straight win in this showdown between sister teams from San Miguel Corp.
Before Teng, Austria was glad to see some of his players outside of June Mar Fajardo deliver, like the veteran Marcio Lassiter and Don Trollano, who had silent nights in Game 1.
Three triples from Lassiter in the third allowed San Miguel to stay within striking distance before Trollano got his groove during the stretch to eventually finish with 12 points on top of five rebounds.
Another bench player who stepped up for the Beermen was Jericho Cruz with 11 points, three rebounds and three assists.
“I’m happy with our bench, because most of the contributions came from them,” said Austria, pointing to the Beermen’s 44 bench points, 15 more than in Game 1.
JMF big as usual
Fajardo dominated the paint once more to come up with 21 points and 23 rebounds, marking the third straight time the nine-time MVP and prime candidate for the Best Player of the Conference had a 20-20 game.
That made Fajardo the first local player to have three consecutive 20-20 games, as per PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III.
San Miguel and Ginebra will break their tie on Friday night at the same venue, with the latter looking to regroup after squandering an 11-point lead.
TNT was aiming for a 2-0 lead against fellow MVP Group side Meralco in the other semis game at press time.
The loss also ended Ginebra’s streak of eight straight victories dating back to the midway point of the eliminations. Ginebra had snapped San Miguel’s run of 10 consecutive wins with that Game 1 win.
“We were outhustled and outran in Game 1,” said Austria. “Our only thing on our minds was that we don’t want to lose two in a row, not [Ginebra’s] streak.”
Abarrientos and Stephen Holt finished with 18 points apiece for the Gin Kings.
