GRAND FINALE
The team that owns a Grand Slam will be the last squad TNT will have to hurdle in its own chase for the Philippine Basketball Association’s coveted triple crown.
San Miguel Beer rallied back to defeat Barangay Ginebra, 100-93, in Game 7 of the Philippine Cup semifinals late Wednesday at Araneta Coliseum to book a spot in the battle for the PBA’s most prestigious trophy.
“It’s very clear, they never gave up, especially in the last quarter,” coach Leo Austria said. “The mindset of the players was really positive.”
The Beermen forged a Finals showdown against the Tropang 5G, which will begin on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Veteran Chris Ross, Don Trollano, Jericho Cruz and Rodney Brondial provided the ample support for June Mar Fajardo and the Beermen weathered an 11-point deficit in the second half to overcome a Gin Kings squad that was riding on the momentum of a dramatic Game 6 victory that forced the do-or-die affair.
But in front of 12,279 fans who predominantly cheered them on, Ginebra’s top guns failed to forge a third straight Finals duel vs TNT.
Shades of 2011
“Since we lost the last time, everybody was so embarrassed and frustrated because it was a sure win,” Austria said. “But basketball is a game of runs, and they realized that even we lost, the chance was still there.”
Ross, a vital cog in many of San Miguel’s past championship runs, posted 19 points, three rebounds, seven assists and four steals while Fajardo, battling an injury throughout the series, had 21 points and 19 rebounds in the victory.
“I’m a competitor and not playing the last game hurt my feelings,” Ross said after the game. “And seeing LA (Tenorio) do his thing, it was super-inspiring to me.”
Tenorio, the veteran Ginebra playmaker, nailed a game-winning triple that sent the series into a deciding seventh game.
“I told coach that I want to win,” Ross said. “I don’t care how it’s done. I step up to the plate. No one competes harder than me. No one plays harder than me.”
The Beermen’s victory also sets up a titanic clash between the flagship squads of rival conglomerates San Miguel Corp. and the MVP Group.
And as far as a Grand Slam is concerned, there is history between the two teams.
In 2011, TNT, then known as Talk ‘N Text, was on the verge of sweeping the season crowns when it was stopped by San Miguel (then known as Petron) in seven games in the Governors’ Cup.
The Beermen completed a Grand Slam in 1989 behind a powerhouse roster that included PBA greats Ramon Fernandez, Hector Calma, Samboy Lim and Ricardo Brown.
