GAME TODAY
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
7:30 p.m. – TNT vs. SMB
TNT threw away the ball when it mattered most, muffed easy layups, and shot bricks in the face of San Miguel Beer’s more determined stand in Game 2 last Wednesday night.
Beermen coach Leo Austria spoke highly of his charges’ resolve in rebounding from a numbing—and even more—controversial 96-99 loss to the Tropang 5G in the series opener last Sunday.
“After the loss, I think we have to bounce back and everybody realized that we have to step up dahil hindi birong malagay sa 0-2,” Austria said. “We reduced the series into a best-of-5. So, the next game is very important for us.
“For them also, that is pivotal because sabi ko nga before, this is just like a chess match. So, it’s a move of adjustment,” he added.
In this veritable battle of wits, Grand Slam-seeking TNT hopes to regain the upper hand when it faces SMB tonight in Game 3 of their best-of-7 finals showdown for the PBA Philippine Cup crown at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The protagonists show up and duke it out at 7:30 p.m., both training their sights on moving two wins away from getting the job done—albeit with different missions.
For the Tropang 5G, it’s the Triple Crown that came so close yet so far for them in 2011 while for the Beermen, it’s simply regaining their elite status as kings of the import-less tourney.
Already hobbling with an assortment of injuries to its roster, TNT center JP Erram is doubtful tonight due to a swollen right ankle he suffered the last time out, leaving the likes of sharpshooter Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy, Jordan Heading, Kelly Williams, and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser to take the cudgels for the wards of tactician Chot Reyes.
“Whoever is next in line, they’re just going to have to do their job. Hopefully, Poy can bounce back, but if not, we will be ready,” Ganuelas-Rosser said.
“June Mar (Fajardo) is a different animal. Just making it as difficult as we can. This series is even right now so we just have to make adjustments.”
Aside from the reigning eight-time MVP Fajardo, Don Trollano, CJ Perez, Chris Ross, Mo Tautuaa, Jericho Cruz, and Rodney Brondial will spearhead SMB’s attack.
All the doubts whether the Beermen are still hurting from their Game 1 fall should not be put to rest.
Listen to Austria. “We’ve been in this adversity and we know what to do. With the support of the management, especially coach Al (Alfrancis Chua San Miguel Corporation sports director), he was there in our practice to motivate us and it’s a good support from the management, dahil alam nila, kaya pa rin naming manalo, and pinatunayan namin ngayon,” he said.
“I told them that the chances are still there. This is a game of best-of-seven, so it’s just one loss.”
