The PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals between the San Miguel Beermen and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel is now down to a virtual best-of-three.
This developed as San Miguel rode a wave of red-hot shooting to repulse Ginebra, 131-121, in Game 4 of their semis duel on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Beermen took command right in the opening frame, going to June Mar Fajardo early and often to take a 34-28 lead in the game’s first 12 minutes. San Miguel continued to feed the eight-time MVP inside, before eventually finding a rhythm from downtown for a potent inside-out attack that led the PBA’s winningest ballclub to a 62-56 advantage going into halftime.
San Miguel Unleashes Third Quarter Storm to Take Control
Ginebra looked poised to make a move after intermission, scoring the first five points of the third to pull within one in less than two minutes. But San Miguel made a move right after, outscoring the crowd darlings 37-19 the rest of the way to turn a precarious 62-61 lead to a 99-85 cushion going to the fourth and final frame.
There would be no comeback for the Barangay this time around, even with Ginebra’s big moment guy Justin Brownlee uncorking 49 big points. Instead of withering under another Brownlee barrage, the Beermen rained fire on their own, with Don Trollano, Game 2 hero Terrence Romeo, and Chris Ross all hitting from downtown to put the game out of reach.
Fajardo led the way for San Miguel with 29 points and 16 boards, while import EJ Anosike played through a bum ankle to chip in 27 points and 11 rebounds. Cjay Perez was solid as well, finishing with a stellar all-around output of 20 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals.
The Scores:
- SAN MIGUEL 131 – Fajardo 29, Anosike 27, Perez 20, Lassiter 15, Trollano 15, Romeo 14, Cruz 8, Ross 3
- GINEBRA 121 – Brownlee 49, Holt 17, Thompson 15, J.Aguilar 12, Abarrientos 11, Ahanmisi 5, Tenorio 5, Pinto 3, Adamos 2, Devance 2
