MANILA – San Miguel Beermen displayed its steadiness in the endgame to dethrone Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, 94-91, in Game 3 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals on Sunday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Already ahead 90-79 after a three-pointer by Jaymar Perez, the Gin Kings stormed their way back anew behind Japeth Aguilar, Earl Scottie Thompson, Maverick Ahanmisi, and Christian Standhardinger to cut the deficit to 89-92.
The Gin Kings still had a chance to tie the game, but Standhardinger turned the ball over that led to two insurance free throws by Beermen center June Mar Fajardo with eight seconds left.
Bennie Boatwright Jr. finished with a double-double of 26 points and 13 rebounds, while Ilonggo Jericho Cruz added 17 markers as the Beermen swept the best-of-five semis series, 3-0.
Marcio Lassiter contributed 14 points, including two three-point conversions, Fajardo had a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Perez ended with 11 markers and nine boards for the Beermen.
With the victory, the Beermen will advance to the best-of-seven championship series against the winner of Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots-Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters semis series.
The Hotshots-Fuel Masters semifinals series was stretched to a Game 4 this Wednesday after Phoenix pulled off a massive 103-85 victory on Sunday afternoon at the same venue.
This is the Beermen’s first PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals appearance since winning the championship in 2019 with former NBA player Chris McCullough as their reinforcement.
“It’s just composure,” said head coach Jorge. “The players were very composed, especially in the end game. Game One, Two, it was anybody’s ballgame but we came out with the victory there also because of our composure.”
Tony Bishop Jr. led the way with 25 points, Thompson added 17 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, Aguilar tallied 12 points, while Standhardinger and Jamie Malonzo ended with 10 points each for the dethroned Gin Kings./PN
BOX SCORE:
SAN MIGUEL 94 – Boatwright 26, Cruz 17, Lassiter 14, Perez 11, Fajardo 11, Trollano 6, Teng 6, Ross 3, Brondial 0, Tautuaa 0.
GINEBRA 91 – Bishop 25, Thompson 17, J. Aguilar 12, Malonzo 10, Standhardinger 10, Tenorio 8, Pringle 5, Pinto 2, Ahanmisi 2.
Quarterscores: 21-18, 43-42, 75-69, 94-91.
