SMB 1-game away to 3rd All Filipino Cup title, downs Gin Kings in Game 4
• 05:50 AM Sat Mar 4, 2017
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By:
Edwin O. Fernandez
SMB's Gabby Espinas and Ronald Tubid (right) sandwich Gin King's Chris Ellis in this game. Both Espinas and Tubid provide breathing space for Junemar Fajardo and Marcio Lassiter in every game and scoring too. (PBA image)
San Miguel
Beer unleashed its hit men to build a huge advantage against the league’ most
popular tem Barangay Ginebra, expecting a rally later in the game, and
succeeded 94-85 in Game 4 of All Filipino Cup finals Friday.
Marcio
Lassiter led the Beermen with his 20 points but Chris Ross was the Bida Player
of the game, nailing 17 points and nine assists.
There’s no
room for fatigue, this is finals series, we are coming prepared, Ross said.
On Sunday,
Game 5, we will still look at the series at 0-0 so we will come out the way we
did today, he added.
The Gin Kings,
led by Joe Devance, repeatedly rallied, getting close as 7 points down the stretch
from 26 point deficit in the third only to collapse on SMB defense.
Like Ross, SMB
coach Leo Austria is not lowering his guard.
He knew pretty well Ginebra with Tim Cone can turn the tide on their
side.
Austria and
his wards found the antidote how to beat the league’s most popular team, that
is, build a huge lead early in the game.
Game 5 is set
Sunday at the Smart Araneta.