San Miguel Beer is now one win away from the PBA Philippine Cup finals after notching consecutive victories over Barangay Ginebra in their intense semifinal series. The Beermen followed up their dominant Game 4 performance with a composed 103-92 win Friday, July 4, night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, taking a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven duel.

Coach Leo Austria’s squad broke the series’ alternating win pattern and now has the first real chance to wrap things up when Game 6 tips off on Sunday.

Cruz, Perez, and Fajardo deliver for SMB

Jericho Cruz came off the bench firing, scoring a season-high 27 points on 3-of-4 shooting from deep and adding four steals to ignite San Miguel. CJ Perez, continuing his stellar postseason run, exploded for a playoff career-best 31 points, while June Mar Fajardo powered his way to a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double.

Don Trollano added timely buckets in the fourth, scoring nine of his 11 points to help SMB pull away in the closing minutes.

Momentum finally shifts to San Miguel’s favor

Unlike the first four games, which featured alternating wins by both squads, the Beermen broke the cycle with their second straight triumph. “The players knew the importance of this game kasi usually ang nananalo ng Game 5s, malaki ang chances to get into the finals,” said Austria.

Though in control now, Austria knows Ginebra isn’t going away easily. “Alam natin ang kalaban naman natin ay never say die,” he added, expecting a fierce response in Game 6.

Cruz steps up in the clutch

Cruz scored 12 points in the third quarter, helping SMB stretch its lead to 54-44 before Ginebra trimmed the gap to 74-71 entering the fourth.
In the final three minutes, Cruz’s key steal led to a Trollano layup that gave the Beermen a 95-88 cushion.

“Kinapalan ko lang ang mukha ko,” Cruz said jokingly. Turning serious, he added: “Lahat ng depensa naka-focus kay June Mar so palaging na-o-open ako. Kailangan kong i-take ‘yung shots, kasi kung pumapasok ‘yan, iiwan ako sa court.”