STUNG in the Big Dance’s opener, San Miguel Beer showed great resolve in Game 2 last Wednesday. Now, it’s defending champion TNT’s turn to prove it can essay a fightback.
The Beermen tangle with the Tropang Giga tonight in Game 3 of their best-of-7 finals duel for the PBA Philippine Cup title at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The match is set at 5:45 p.m., with the Beermen determined to score a big follow-up to their 109-100 Game 2 win that tied the series at 1-1 and the Tropang Giga out to bounce back.
Beermen coach Leo Austria has cautioned his charges to expect their foes he labeled as a “well-oiled machine” to show up with big adjustments.
“We’re so happy kasi nanalo kami against TNT dahil mahirap silang talunin,” Austria said.
“They’re a well-oiled machine and although wala si coach Chot (Reyes) alam naman natin na nai-lay down na iyong foundation ng kanilang laro.
“Talang very dangerous sila. Mahirap talunin ang TNT and I’m sure in Game 3 marami silang adjustments and on our part, we will try to figure it out,” he added.
Foremost among those expected to carry the fight for SMB are prized center June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Vic Manuel, Marcio Lassiter, Jericho Cruz, Mo Tautuaa, and Chris Ross.
Austria is hoping for his team’s new additions such as Perez, Manuel, and Cruz to jive with their teammates.
“As a group, very young team because some of our players came from other teams.
They’re still trying to understand what kind of basketball we play. Dine-develop iyong character ngayon. Iyong chemistry, slowly, nandiyan na iyan,” he said.
“What we’re trying to tell them is basketball is not just about June Mar, not about CJ. . . so kailangan you have to play as a team. Iyon ang culture namin. When it comes to money time, we know where to go. Hindi puwedeng ‘ako na,’ kailangan ‘kung sino,’ iyon ang pupuntahan namin.”
TNT will still be without tactician Chot Reyes, who will call the shots for Gilas Pilipinas’ tiff against Lebanon in the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers today in Beirut.
Bothered by a sprained left ankle he suffered in the second quarter of Game 2, Tropang Giga gunner Mikey Williams vowed to play.
“I’ll be ready for Game 3. I’ll figure out how to do better,” he said.
Aside from Williams, TNT will pin its hopes on Roger Pogoy, Jayson Castro, JP Erram, Troy Rosario, Kelly Williams, and Glenn Khobuntin.
