4 teams plunge into do-or-die Game 3 action
Credit to Author: JOSEF T. RAMOS, TMT| Date: Tue, 09 Apr 2019 16:38:03 +0000
Action explodes today as four teams battle for two semifinals berths in Game 3 of the best-of-three quarterfinals of Season 44 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
TNT KaTropa faces defending champion San Miguel Beer in the 4:30 p.m. first game followed by Magnolia-Barangay Ginebra San Miguel tussle at 7 p.m.
TNT forced a sudden-death Game 3 with a 93-88 win over the Beermen on Monday.
“As one of the veterans, I need to step up. But I think it’s still going to be the same competition and intensity because San Miguel Beer is a very strong team,” TNT guard Jayson Castro said.
“Our motivation so far is to get into the semifinals. We know that we’re capable of winning against them.”
Castro finished with 19 points and nine assists in Game 2.
San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria believes Game 3 is a 50-50 game.
“We have to watch the film first and study their game. It’s a 50-50 ball game and both teams have a chance of winning,” said Austria, noting that strong defense is the key to victory.
“I think we have to play a better defense. Last night, we limited them to 78 points but tonight they scored 93 and that’s 15 points more than in our last game. So the name of the game is defense and not only offense.”
Winner of San Miguel Beer-TNT series will face Phoenix Pulse in the best-of-seven semifinals.
The victor between Ginebra and Magnolia will face the Elasto Painters in the semis.
“It is elimination game for both teams. So we expect 100 percent effort from both teams and everyone’s A-Game to come out,” said the 7-footer Greg Slaughter. “We must be able to hit some outside shots and open things up in the lane, let our teammates to get involved, and just come up with more intensity.”
The Gin Kings dominated the Hotshots, 86-75, in Game 1 on Saturday but the latter took Game 2 on Monday, 106-77.
Ian Sangalang scattered 21 points and collected nine rebounds while Robbie Herndon contributed 18 points in Game 2.
Top seed and twice-to-beat armed Phoenix and No. 2 Rain or Shine are already assured of a semifinals seat after winning against their respective opponents namely Alaska and Northport on Sunday.
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