The San Miguel Beermen are one win away from another PBA Philippine Cup title, and they’ve got their enviable depth to thank for stepping up in Game 5. In particular, Rodney Brondial gave the Beermen 33 high-impact minutes, highlighted by 17 points and 15 rebounds on top of 1 assist and 2 blocks.
Notably, Brondial’s big game came after two subpar ones—4 points and 4 rebounds in Game 3, and 2 points and 2 rebounds in Game 4. Then again, he had been solid at the start of these PBA Finals, contributing 10 points and 2 rebounds in Game 1 and putting up 6 points and 12 boards in Game 2 before spraining his ankle in the third quarter.
After Game 5, Brondial admitted that his ankle hasn’t healed fully, leading to him cramping up in the fourth quarter of what was a yeoman’s effort all game long.
Brondial Goes All Out
But, bum ankle or not, Brondial wasn’t holding back in Game 5, not with so much on the line.
“Hindi pa kasi hundred percent ’yung tapilok ko, pero buti nakabalik na rin ako. ’Yung mga nakaraang games namin, hindi ako masyadong nakapag-contribute…,” he told reporters after Game 5. “Ngayon, talagang sabi ko hindi na pwedeng pumetiks. Kailangan buhos na.”
Brondial didn’t hold back, all right, as he helped the Beermen wipe out TNT’s first-quarter lead with an 8-point, 6-rebound second quarter. He added 9 points and 9 rebounds more in the second half to tow San Miguel to the cusp of defending its Philippine Cup crown at the expense of the Tropa again.
With one more win to go for a title, expect Rodney Brondial to go all out once more in Game 6 on Sunday. The Beermen following his lead could be big trouble for TNT.
