SAN MIGUEL Beer seeks a finals date with Alaska as it goes for the clincher in Game Four against Rain or Shine in the semifinals of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Beermen and the Elasto Painters clash at 7 p.m. San Miguel is eyeing its 35th finals appearance to move closer to winning its 21st PBA title.
But they need to hurdle Rain or Shine first to get the right of meeting the Aces anew in the best-of-seven championship series of the season-ending conference.
San Miguel regained the upper hand in the series with a 114-108 victory in Game Three, with the Beermen displaying more poise after blowing a 20-point lead in Game Two that allowed the Elasto Painters to escape with a 113-110 win and tie the series.
“Game Four will be pivotal,” said San Miguel Head Coach Leo Austria, who drew solid games from import Arizona Reid and playmaker Alex Cabagnot in Game Three.
Reid had 37 points, while Cabagnot bounced back from a six-point output in Game Two and poured in 26 markers and nine assists to give the Beermen a big lift versus the undermanned Rain or Shine.
Already without Jervy Cruz due to a foot injury, the Elasto Painters played minus Beau Belga in Game Three because of an ankle injury. Belga is doubtful for Game Four.
Belga’s absence gave Head Coach Yeng Guiao matchup problems, particularly on Reid. Raymund Almazan and JR Quiñahan fell into foul trouble in Game Three, forcing Guiao to put Wendell McKines against San Miguel center June Mar Fajardo.
Fajardo had 17 points in the game and Guiao admitted they need to keep out of foul trouble and play better perimeter defense against the shooters of San Miguel.
“They simply had too many weapons in this game [Game Three],” said Guiao, who got 39 points from McKines, who exploded for a season-high 53 points in Game Two.
“We need to address their three-point shooting and also get back to our match-ups. Hopefully, Beau will be able to play on Wednesday for us to preserve our foul situation,” he added.
Image credits: Kevin de la Cruz