THERE were doubts whether this new-look San Miguel Beer five can regain its place as the pro league’s best team in the All-Filipino tourney.
Former MVP Arwind Santos and clutch playmaker Alex Cabagnot, two members of the Beermen’s dreaded ‘Death Five’ that were key pieces in their five straight titles from 2014 to 2019, have been sent to other teams and it was not immediately clear if their replacements have what it takes. But all those qualms were put to rest last night.
Boosted by a fiery fourth quarter breakaway, SMB ripped TNT 119-97 in the titular match of their best-of-7 finals showdown for the PBA Philippine Cup crown before a wild and roaring crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Until that final period onslaught, however, San Miguel fateful, part of the 15,195 fans that showed up, were on the edge of their seats, unsure whether the Beermen can go all the way.
Jayson Castro fought through a sprained right ankle injury and carried the fight for the Tropang Giga with 32 points, most of them coming in a fiery third quarter onslaught where TNT, playing without coach Chot Reyes, battled back to seize control going into the pivotal fourth 89-84.
But conference best player June Mar Fajardo, later named as the finals MVP, led a mighty 17-0 San Miguel blitz in the fourth capped by a CJ Perez basket that made it a 101-89 count at the 7:20 mark that took the fight out of a winded TNT side.
From there, SMB’s celebration started.
The emphatic triumph served as a fitting follow-up to the Beermen’s 114-96 victory in Game 6 three nights ago that forged the deciding match and fulfilled their mission of reclaiming the pro league’s crown jewel and their first since the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup.
It was a bitter end to the Tropang Giga’s bid for back-to-back diadems in the season-opening meet where they played without Reyes, who missed the game due to health and safety protocols.
Perez scattered 25 points, to go with four rebounds, and seven assists for the Beermen, while had 19 markers, 18 boards, and five dimes.
Castro also had 10 caroms, and eight feeds, while Mikey Williams had 22 markers, but was held to only five after scoring 17 points in the first quarter.
Vic Manuel and Marcio Lassiter also combined for 31 points, while Mo Tautuaa, Simon Enciso, and Chris Ross added 13, 12, and 12 points, respectively for SMB.
Forward Glenn Khobuntin also sat out the match due to an MCL injury for TNT, while hardworking big man JP Erram was sent to the showers for good after he was slapped a flagrant foul penalty two for hitting the head of Tautuaa at the 55.1-second mark of the second quarter.
SMB coach Leo Austria, who won his ninth title overall, gave all the credit to his charges.
“Pinahirapan kami ng TNT. Pinag-isipan talaga namin ito (how to beat them). Hindi ito magiging posible kung hindi dahil sa players,” Austria said.
“Pinagmukha na naman nila akong magaling na mag-coach. Isa lang masasabi ko, nagbabalik na talaga ang basketball,” he added.
Roger Pogoy and Troy Rosario also contributed 16 and 11 markers, respectively for TNT.
