Texters, Beermen duel for 2-1 lead

MANILA, Philippines - TNT KaTropa, surviving a health issue by its import in Game One, and San Miguel Beer, overcoming a horrendous start and a poor job by its own import the next game, square off anew tonight, disputing the 2-1 lead in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-seven finale at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Tip-off is at 6:30 p.m. with the Texters setting out with a complete cast as rookie hotshot RR Pogoy was spared suspension and merely penalized with a P30,000 fine on his flagrant foul against fellow former FEU star Arwind Santos.

Nonetheless, emotions are now high following the intense battle in Game Two marked by infractions by Pogoy, Santos and TNT import Josh Smith.

Santos is mad as he’s insulted by Pogoy’s cheap shot, leading to the ejection of the TNT gunner at the 8:39 mark of the third quarter.

“It’s not the physical pain. I blew up because men don’t want that done to them,” said Santos, hit on the groin as he’s on mid-air with Pogoy at his back.

Pogoy’s exit didn’t help their cause as the Texters fell behind by a big margin in the third period and failed to recover in an 88-102 blowout.

Obviously, Pogoy lost his focus in a struggling performance after a huge 27-point explosion in their 104-102 win in Game One. He was 0-of-4 from the field and 0-of-2 from the stripe in Game Two.

TNT coach Nash Racela said it’s going to be a battle and his players have to stay focused and composed if they’re to have a chance in winning the series.

“We need to control our emotions more because things will not change,” said Racela.

“More than the defense of San Miguel, I know they have a scheme against Joshua (Smith), but more than the scheme of San Miguel, it was…. well the problem really was how we reacted to all the other things,” Racela added.

For San Miguel coach Leo Austria, others stepping up when one of them was struggling was the big key in their Game Two triumph.

“We’re trying to get a good chemistry. I need all of them. If one is not performing well, the others should step up. I hope we can sustain doing that,” said Austria.

June Mar Fajardo, Chris Ross, Arwind Santos and Alex Cabagnot delivered the goods as Rhodes struggled for only seven points.

Santos was a key spark off the bench, getting away with 16 points and six rebounds.

The Beermen missed their first six attempts and turned the ball over thrice before scoring a first basket courtesy of Cabagnot with already four minutes into the game.

Santos provided the wake-up call as he subbed for Rhodes, scoring 11 points on 3-of-3 field goals and 2-of-2 charities as the Beermen chopped an early 17-point deficit down to eight, 24-32, at the end of the opening quarter.

The SMB coach sat out Rhodes early after committing three errors and missing three shots in the initial salvo of the contest.

And still largely through the effort of their locals, the Beermen roared on in the second period and surged ahead, 52-43, at the half.

After an early explosion of six three-pointers on a high 50-percent clip, the Texters went silent in the second period, making only 1-of-7 treys and 3-of-10 twinners.

The Beermen sustained a thorough beating of the Texters in the final half.