Beermen shoot for pivotal 3-1 lead

MANILA, Philippines – San Miguel head coach Leo Austria knows how valuable a 3-1 series lead is and at the same time, he is aware that it won't be handed to them easily.

"Well, it's far from over. We don't want to celebrate this game because this win is nothing yet," the tactician said shortly after notching a Game Three victory over TNT KaTropa on Sunday night. 

"We need to prepare for our fourth game, we have a commanding lead pag naging 3-1, but it's really hard to get a win No. 3 because alam naman natin kanina, lahat naglabasan ang intensity ng mga players to the point na magkaroon sila ng kaguluhan doon sa court," he added.

Tempers flared at halftime when KaTropa's two foreign reinforcements—possible Joshua Smith replacement Mike Myers and Governors' Cup import  Michael Craig—figured in an altercation  with San Miguel's governor Robert Non and a couple of the team's coaching staff.

A two-day break and the possibility of trailing 1-3, according to Austria, definitely give the KaTropa side a different outlook. 

"Makakapag-rest sila at makakapag-isip," he noted. "Alam natin na there's a lot of people helping them—a lot of coaching staff—so let's see what will happen. But [for] our part, it's our job to see what kind of adjustment we also have to do," he added.

And there's also the constant possibility that TNT fields a new import instead of Smith, which could shake things up in the coming games. 

The hulking Smith, who had been vital for KaTropa in the semifinals, has been playing through an injured foot.

"Whatever happens, we have to face it dahil before the start of the series, alam naman natin na anytime pwede sila magpalit eh," Austria said. "Magpalit o hindi, our team is well-motivated eh."

"We will not back down," he closed.