PBA: San Miguel wins rugged Game 4
Credit to Author: Tempo Online| Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2019 16:00:40 +0000
by Jonas Terrado
Game Today (Cuneta Astrodome)
7 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Magnolia
(Series tied 2-2)
Game Tomorrow (Cuneta Astrodome)
7 p.m. – Phoenix Pulse vs San Miguel
(San Miguel leads series 3-1)
San Miguel Beer regained its usual brand of play last night while enduring another emotionally-charged battle with Phoenix Pulse to prevail 114-91 and move on the cusp of a fifth straight finals appearance in the PBA Philippine Cup.
Arwind Santos recovered from an anemic showing in Game 3 by firing 16 points while Terrence Romeo put on a shooting display in the third quarter by drilling in 20 points and the Beermen gained a commanding 3-1 lead in the contest held at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The Beermen go for the clincher on Thursday at the same venue.
But those who witnessed the Beermen putting a stranglehold on the best-of-seven affair saw tensions go to a whole new level compared in the previous three games.
Terrence Romeo of San Miguel Beer goes up for a shot against Jason Perkins of Phoenix Pulse. (PBA Images)
Elbows were everywhere, verbal exchanges were the norm as multiple altercations that didn’t show any serious threat of turning into a free-for-all marred the lopsided match.
One altercation may have turned the complexion of the contest when Phoenix’s Alex Mallari was ejected for shoving San Miguel’s Alex Cabagnot and hurling invectives at Matt Ganuelas-Rosser with 2:22 left in the second quarter and the Beermen ahead 48-41.
Two Santos threes during an 11-7 windup gave San Miguel a 59-48 halftime lead, leaving Phoenix deflated and setting up a bruising second half.
Romeo’s 17 points in the third enabled the Beermen to lead by a high of 30 and closer toward another return trip to the pinnacle of the PBA’s most important tournament.
Matt Ganuelas-Rosser’s intangibles and big man Kelly Nabong’s psychological battle with Calvin Abueva and Phoenix counterparts also played key roles in the decisive victory.
Scores:
SAN MIGUEL 114 – Romeo 20, Cabagnot 18, Santos 16, Ross 10, Pessumal 10, Standhardinger 9, Fajardo 9, Rosser 8, Nabong 7, Zamar 5, Vigil 2, Lassiter 0, Mamaril 0, Tubid 0.
PHOENIX 91 – Abueva 19, Jazul 9, Marcelo 9, Perkins 8, Chua 8, Kramer 7, Intal 7, Napoles 7, Wright 6, Mendoza 4, Mallari 3, Revilla 2, Dennison 2, Guevarra 0.
Quarters: 27-20, 59-48, 89-63, 114-91.