OVERCONFIDENCE doomed San Miguel Beer in two straight games against Magnolia in the Big Dance.
In the pivotal Game 5 two nights back, the Beermen took to heart the key lessons they learned from their jarring defeats.
“In Games 3 and 4 we were overconfident, and it brought us down again,” Gallent said.
“Confidence is good, but overconfidence is bad. That’s what happened in Games 3 and 4,” he added.
Gallent spoke after his charges turned back the Hotshots 108-98 to grab a 3-2 lead in their best-of-7 finals duel for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup crown.
The win made up for SMB’s 85-96 setback to Magnolia in the fourth tiff last Friday.
The Beermen also dropped Game 3 80-88 last Wednesday.
More importantly, SMB regained the edge in the race-to-4 series and will try to finish off the Hotshots in Game 6 on Valentine’s Day at the same venue.
A deciding seventh showdown, if necessary, will be played this Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Jericho Cruz notched 30 points, on top of eight rebounds, and four assists for SMB, while import Bennie Boatwright backed him up with 21 markers, six boards, and four dimes.
Reigning seven-time MVP June Mar Fajardo played through a calf injury and had 18 and 15 for the Beermen.
Reserve guard Simon Enciso, who was previously scoreless in the first four games of the finals, provided a big boost with 15 points, five caroms, and three feeds, while Don Trollano also added 10 markers for SMB.
Gallent said his team staying composed in the face of the Hotshots’ endgame fightback proved to be one of the keys.
“They just have to be composed, we just have to be relaxed but we cannot commit turnovers just like that because Magnolia will take advantage of those,” Gallent said.
“Just thinking about the next play (and moving past mistakes), good things happen.”
The Beermen smell blood but are not looking past the Hotshots.
“The two-day break will also help us, so it’s very good for both teams,” he said. “We expect them to do the same and try to overwork us. We’re just gonna be prepared for what’s coming in Game 6.”
SMB is poised to reach the Promised Land for the first time in the same edition of the import-spiced tourney since 2019–if it plays with its usual swag but with guarded confidence.
