(PBA image)
San Miguel Beer is playing with momentum and menace, intent on pushing forward and bringing TNT Tropang 5G closer to the edge.
Fresh off back-to-back wins, the Beermen seek to sustain their surge and dig a deeper hole for the Tropa in Game 4 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup best-of-seven finals at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Wednesday. Tip-off is set at 7:35 p.m., following a brief ceremony honoring the Best Player of the Conference.
That individual spotlight is expected to belong to San Miguel’s towering centerpiece June Mar Fajardo, who topped the statistical race with 44.3 points, ahead of Calvin Abueva of NorthPort, Converge standouts Juan Gomez de Liaño and Justine Baltazar, and Magnolia’s Zav Lucero. With another accolade likely headed his way, the Kraken is once again poised to anchor the Beermen’s push for control of the series.
San Miguel coach Leo Austria continues to stress hunger and discipline, urging his squad to remain locked in as they chase the ultimate prize in the league’s flagship tournament. A victory would give the Beermen a commanding 3-1 lead, a margin that historically proves difficult to erase in a race-to-four showdown.
Still, Austria expects TNT to come out with urgency, fueled by the sting of an 89-95 collapse in Game 3 that slipped away in the final minute. “Back to basics,” Austria said. “Kailangan maghanda at mag-aral dahil siguradong magpupursigi silang umiwas sa 3-1 hole.”
Veteran guard Chris Ross echoed the same caution, emphasizing that San Miguel cannot afford to look too far ahead and must continue treating the finals as a possession-by-possession grind.
Game 3 appeared firmly in TNT’s grasp until CJ Perez detonated a four-point play followed by a cold-blooded three to flip the outcome and seize a 2-1 series lead for San Miguel. The loss left the Tropang 5G visibly drained, but that exhaustion could easily give way to resolve heading into the next battle.
TNT has been in these moments before, and the challenge now is to respond with composure and fight. “On my part, nakakapanghinayang, ang sakit sa loob. Pero itong masakit na pagkatalo, magiging motivation ito para sa akin,” said Rey Nambatac.
The TNT guard admitted their inability to close out Game 3 proved costly, but vowed adjustments would be made. “Hindi namin na-closeout nang maayos ang larong ito. So titingnan namin kung saan kami nagkamali. Sana hindi na maulit.”
With San Miguel aiming to tighten the noose and TNT desperate to steady itself, Game 4 looms as another pivotal chapter in a finals series defined by swings, pressure, and championship resolve.