By JAY R. GOTERA
MANILA — The San Miguel Beermen captured their third straight PBA Philippine Cup title, finishing off the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 91-85, in a Finals Game 5 thriller watched by over 20,200 fans at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum Sunday night.
SMB routed Ginebra by 27 points in Game 1. The Beermen nearly won in Game 2 after coming back from 26 points down but lost in overtime in a classic Game 2. But the Beermen masterfully won the next three games to stamp their dominance over the Kings.
Balloons and confetti rained down after SMB became only the second PBA franchise to win a three-peat, or three straight conference titles. The Talk ‘N Text franchise was the only other team to complete the hat trick from 2011 to 2013.
Three-time MVP June Mar Fajardo and Arwind Santos led the Beermen, scoring 21 points apiece. Alex Cabagnot added 18 markers.
But it was Chris Ross who wasnamed Finals MVP after another spectacular showing on both ends of the court. The flashy Filipino-American guard finished with a near triple double of 12 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds plus six steals.
After leading 51-41 at halftime, SMB had to fend off several Ginebra comebacks in the third and fourth quarters.
In the third quarter, the Kings unleashed a 10-2 run, led by Joe Devance. They came to within two points, 63-61, after a basket by Mark Caguioa nearing the end of the period.
But SMB showed its determination to wrap up the series, opening the fourth period with a three-point play from Fajardo. Marcio Lassiter and Ross fired booming triples, but Sol Mercado retaliated by scoring Ginebra’s first 11 points in the quarter, as the Kings came to within one, 70-69.
The Beermen sizzled once again with a flurry of baskets, restoring their lead back to nine points.
The never-say-die Kings responded with LA Tenorio nailing two straight three-pointers and Japeth Aguilar scoring on a huge dunk as they fired off an 11-3 rally. Once again, Ginebra trailed by just a point with 2:28 remaining.
But the Kings could not get over the hump as the Beermen rattled off seven straight points capped by a Santos slam dunk to finally put an end to Ginebra’s bid to extend the series.
Aguilar posted team-highs of 26 points and 16 rebounds while Joe Devance had a near triple-double with 20 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists for the Kings.
