THERE'S now no denying that San Miguel Beer is really determined to keep its PBA Commissioner's Cup crown.
Refusing to be daunted by an early 23-point deficit, the Beermen grittily came charging back to beat the TNT KaTropa 121-110 Monday for the headstart in their quarterfinals duel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Renaldo Balkman notched game-highs of 36 points and 16 rebounds, but equal credit should also be given June Mar Fajardo and Marcio Lassiter in giving the Beermen the chance to close out the best-of-three series Wednesday.
Fajardo wound up with his own double-double of 27 points and 13 boards and, more importantly, drew the last three fouls from Josh Smith that forced the massive TNT import to ride the bench in the final 3:39 of the game.
Lassiter, meanwhile, aided Balkman and Fajardo in keeping SMB not only afloat but in the thick of the fight despite a 23-46 deficit in the second quarter before finishing with 26 points, six rebounds and four assists.
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"That game was really scary," admitted Beermen coach Leo Austria, before cautioning that TNT has the tools to bounce back and force a decider.
"They still have a chance. We have the advantage, but that is nothing because I know TNT is very competitive and they know what's at stake," Austria pointed out.
It was not just Smith getting into foul trouble and eventually fouling out that did TNT in.
Injuries to Jericho Cruz (right hand) and Roger Pogoy (right ankle), plus a suspected one on Troy Rosario (possible head concussion), also helped stymie the KaTropa's charge, which started out so well before completely sputtering in the end.
Pogoy still wound up with 17 points, to match Smith's output, but he had to go out for good with still 2:14 left after landing awkwardly during a rebound try.
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Cruz, who scored five of TNT's points in a 10-0 start, saw action for only the first 6:18 and did not return.
Also of concern is Rosario's case. His head got hit by Balkman's knee in and he was taken out with 5:18 to go in the opening quarter. He did return later in the quarter and went on to post nine points and seven rebounds, but would have to be examined more thoroughly after complaining of blurred vision.
Kelly Williams, Terrence Romeo, Anthony Semerad, Jayson Castro and Don Trollano took turns trying to stoke the KaTropa's charge, but all only partly succeeded and they also wilted in the face of SMB's juggernaut.
Completely turning the tide in the Beermen's favor was their 16-0 assault for a 119-106 count, highlighted by Balkman's six points and Fajardo's five, in an almost five-minute stretch in which the KaTropa going 0-of-7 from the field and committing two turnovers.
After scoring 40 points in the opening quarter on a torrid 16-for-29 field shooting, including 8-for-16 from deep), TNT finished making just 44 of 101 tries.
In contrast, SMB wound up with a 41-for-83 clip after starting out 9-for-21.
"We have to be cautious in what we're doing," said Austria. "We have to make sure we don't have that kind of a start."(NC)
The scores:
San Miguel 121 - Balkman 36, Fajardo 27, Lassiter 26, Santos 10, Ross 9, Cabagnot 6, Rosser 4, Nabong 3, Heruela 0, Vigil 0.
TNT 110 - Smith 17, Pogoy 17, Williams 16, Romeo 13, Semerad 11, Castro 10, Trollano 10, Rosario 9, Cruz 5, Taha 2, Garcia 0, Paredes 0, Golla 0, Carey 0, Reyes 0, Tamsi 0.
21-40, 48-62, 86-88, 121-110.
