Game today
Araneta Coliseum
7 p.m.- Rain or Shine vs. San Miguel Beer
Best-of-7 Series, SMB leads, 3-2
If their last two wins were any indication, it might be only a matter of time before the San Miguel Beermen book another championship berth.
The defending champions Beermen try to move closer to retaining their crown when they play the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters tonight in Game 6 of their best-of-seven semifinal series of the 41st PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
After shaky 109-105 victory in Game 1 that saw them clawing back from a 22-point deficit before escaping with an overtime win, the Beermen have flexed their muscles, winning the last two games by an average winning margin of 16 points.
Cebuano big man June Mar Fajardo is expected to figure prominently again when the San Miguel Beermen shoot for a finals berth against Rain or Shine in tonight’s Game 6 of their best-of-seven semifinal series tonight at the Araneta Coliseum. (INQUIRER PHOTO)
Rain or Shine tied the series with a 105-97 Game 2 win then took the upper-hand with a 111-106 triumph in Game 3.
San Miguel evened things up again by winning Game 4, 105-92, then came up with another convincing victory in Game 6, 103-94, to take a critical 3-2 series lead.
San Miguel is gunning for its 36th finals appearance and a win today will set up a grudge rematch with the Alaska Aces.
Alaska had taken the first finals berth after it dispatched the GlobalPort Batang Pier in their own best-of-seven semifinal series.
Though they are just a win away from the finals, San Miguel head coach Leo Austria reminded his players to stay focused.
“We have achieved nothing yet with this win. This is a series. We need to win another one and to do that we have to continue to play deliberate and methodical,” Austria said.
A win today will set up an Alaska-San Miguel title for the third time in the last four conferences.
The two teams met in last season’s Philippine Cup finals and figured in another championship showdown in the Governors’ Cup.
In both occasions, the Beermen came out triumphant.
If they are to finish the Elasto Painters tonight, the Beermen need to get enough production not only from dominant big man June Mar Fajardo.
Fajardo has been a dominant in the playoffs with averages of 36.75 points and 17.5 rebounds.
In Game 5, Fajardo failed to match his averages though he still put up decent numbers after tallying 27 points and 12 rebounds.
The Cebuano giant, however got ample support from his teammates with Alex Cabagnot, Arwind Santosm Gabby Espinas, Chris Ross and Ryan Araña each scoring at least eight points.
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