Beermen hold off Texters, lead 2-1

Game Wednesday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

7 p.m. – San Miguel vs TNT KaTropa

MANILA, Philippines - San Miguel Beer leaned on a shattering running game in the third period to build a momentum which it sustained behind the heroics of their scrappy locals to upend Talk N Text KaTropa, 109-97, and grab a crucial 2-1 lead in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-seven finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

The Beermen outgunned, outran and outhustled the Tropang Texters in the last two periods as SMB seized the lead in a game bereft of the passion and torrid shooting that marked the first two games.

However, emotions ran high and there were heated words exchanged, and a near-brawl triggered by an incident involving Chris Ross and Ryan Reyes in the second quarter carried over at the halftime break between practically the entire SMB bench and TNT import reserves Mike Myers and Mike Craig.

But it turned out to be  the spark that fired up the Beermen as they came out smoking at the resumption of the contest, turning a one-point halftime deficit into a 62-52 bulge before settling for a 79-72 lead heading to the fourth.

Charles Rhodes, Alex Cabagnot, Marcio Lassiter and Ross all exploded with huge numbers as the Beermen followed up their 102-88 triumph in Game Two and moved within two games of claiming a second jewel to a possible grand slam season.

The Beermen go for the pivotal 3-1 lead at the resumption of the title series Wednesday, also at the Big Dome.

“You can see the camaraderie of our players. If someone gets hurt, the others will be there to help,” said SMB coach Leo Austria.

“We’re not bad but we’ll not back down,” he added.

The two reserve imports earlier figured in a trash-talk with Ross and other SMB players and had to be ejected from the VIP row. They then transferred behind the TNT bench and figured in an altercation with SMB personalities on the way to the dugout at the halftime break.

The first half was a fierce, intense battle where no team led by more than nine.

Cabagnot fired 11 points in the third and went on to lead all scorers with 28 markers while Rhodes collected 25 points and 20 boards in another double-double job.

TNT coach Nash Racela rued turnovers caused their downfall, saying he’s not aware of the halftime incident.

“We committed a lot of turnovers and that’s basically the problem. We turned the ball over 23 times that they translated into 26 points,” said Racela.

Even with Rhodes on the bench with five fouls, the Beermen unleashed a crucial attack entering the homestretch.

Ross, Lassiter, Arwind Santos and June Mar Fajardo opened a 99-88 SMB lead then Rhodes returned to the floor to help the Beermen complete the decisive win.

Jason Castro, RR Garcia and Josh Smith spearheaded TNT’s challenge. Curiously, RR Pogoy remained practically missing in action, held scoreless for the second game in a row after exploding for 27 points in the series opener.

The Beermen led by nine at 32-25 before the Texters unloaded a 22-10 salvo to race ahead at 47-42.

A slam by Rhodes and a basket by Brian Heruela on a drive narrowed down their deficit to 46-47 at the turn.

The scores:

SAN MIGUEL 109 – Cabagnot 28, Rhodes 25, Ross 17, Lassiter 16, Santos 10, Fajardo 6, Heruela 5, Semerad 2, Tubid 0, Espinas 0. 

TNT 97 – Garcia 19, Smith 18, Castro 17, Semerad 12, De Ocampo 9, Williams 8, Tautuaa 7, Reyes 7, Pogoy 0, Rosario 0.

Quarterscores: 23-23, 46-47, 79-72, 109-97