San Miguel Beermen. – Capeto / Inquirer.net
The team that has a big chelem will be the last team that TNT will have to be the subject of its own prosecution for the Coveted Triple Crown of the Philippine Basketball Association.
San Miguel beer joined to defeat Barangay Ginebra, 100-93, in match 7 of the semi-finals of the Philippine Cup on Wednesday at Araneta Coliseum to reserve a place in the battle of the most prestigious Trophy of the PBA.
Highlights: PBA Philippine Cup Semifals Game 7 – Ginebra vs San Miguel
“It’s very clear, they never abandoned, especially in the last quarter,” said coach Leo Austria. “The players’ state of mind was really positive.”
The Beermen have forged a force test in the final against Tropang 5G, which will start on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Veteran Chris Ross, Don Trollano, Jericho Cruz and Rodney Brondial provided the ample support for June Mar Fajardo and the Beermen resisted an 11 point deficit in the second period to overcome a Gin Kings team which led to the momentum of a spectacular victory of match 6 which forced the D-Or-Die affair.
But in front of 12,279 fans who mainly applauded them, Ginebra’s best cannons failed to forge a third consecutive final duel against TNT.
2011 shades
Jericho Cruz Cruz Cruz Cruz PBA – CRUTO / INQUIER.NET
“Since we lost the last time, everyone was so embarrassed and frustrated because it was a safe victory,” said Austria. “But basketball is a racing game, and they realized that even we lost, luck was still there.”
Ross, a vital cog in many past championships in San Miguel, has displayed 19 points, three rebounds, seven assists and four interceptions while Fajardo, fighting against an injury throughout the series, raised 21 points and 19 rebounds in victory.
“I am a competitor and I do not play in the last match, I deny my feelings,” said Ross after the match. “And seeing the (Tenorio) doing her thing was super inspiring for me.”
Tenorio, veteran Ginebra Playmaker, nailed a triple winner of the game that sent the series in a decisive seventh game.
“I told Coach that I wanted to win,” said Ross. “I don’t care the way it is done. I go up on the plate. No one contributes stronger than me. No one plays stronger than me. “
Beermen’s victory also sets up a titanic confrontation between the flagship teams of rival conglomerates San Miguel Corp. and the MVP group.
And with regard to a big slam, there is a story between the two teams.
In 2011, TNT, then known as Talk ‘N Text, was about to sweep the crowns of the season when he was arrested by San Miguel (then known as Petron) in seven games of the Governors Cup.
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The Beermen finished a big home in 1989 behind a list of power plants which included the greats of PBA Ramon Fernandez, Hector Calma, Samboy Lim and Ricardo Brown.
