(Photo courtesy of PNA)
San Miguel Beer staged a remarkable second-half comeback to defeat Barangay Ginebra, 108-102, on Friday night, forcing a winner-take-all Game 5 in their PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup quarterfinal series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
George King and veteran guard Chris Ross powered the Beermen’s comeback after the team trailed by as many as 17 points early in the third quarter.
San Miguel unleashed a decisive 22-0 run as part of a dominant 46-18 third-quarter performance, turning a 44-61 deficit into a lead it would never relinquish.
King finished with a game-high 35 points, including 18 in the third quarter, while Ross delivered 20 points, 13 of which came during the Beermen’s explosive comeback.
The Beermen appeared headed for a comfortable victory after building a 94-75 advantage, but Ginebra mounted a late rally to cut the deficit to 105-102.
King and Ross, however, converted crucial free throws in the final 21 seconds to secure the victory and keep San Miguel’s championship hopes alive.
The win tied the best-of-five series at 2-2, setting up a deciding Game 5 on Tuesday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
The winner will advance to the semifinals against defending champion TNT Tropang Giga.
Despite the dramatic victory, Ross emphasized that the Beermen still have unfinished business.
“We haven’t done nothing yet, we just evened the series,” Ross said after the game.
“They won two straight we won two straight. We’re on to a decider. That’s usually how it goes when we play Ginebra. When we play Ginebra we go to a Game 6 or 7. We’re excited to play in the next game,” he added.
San Miguel head coach Leo Austria praised Ross for stepping up when the team needed him most.
Ross entered Game 4 averaging only 2.7 points in the series but delivered one of his strongest performances in the playoffs.
“We all know that Chris Ross during the playoffs is a different animal,” Austria said.
The veteran coach credited Ross’ leadership and determination for helping San Miguel regain control after falling behind in the third quarter.
“He’s the key, he’s the leader of the team and he knows what to do,” Austria added.
For Ginebra, Scottie Thompson led the scoring with 27 points and 11 rebounds, while import Jordan Murphy grabbed 22 rebounds but struggled offensively.
Murphy was limited to fewer than 20 points for the second consecutive game and managed just two points after helping Ginebra establish a 61-44 advantage early in the third quarter.
RJ Abarrientos also endured a difficult shooting night, finishing with only seven points on 2-of-13 field goal shooting.
Abarrientos had averaged 19.7 points through the first three games of the series.
With momentum shifting toward San Miguel following back-to-back victories, both teams now face a decisive showdown for the final semifinal berth.
