Games Tuesday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4:30 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs GlobalPort
7 p.m. – Magnolia vs Alaska
MANILA, Philippines – San Miguel Beer stared at an early 23-point deficit but turned the game around upon Josh Smith’s exit on fouls and went on to carve out a 121-110 victory over TNT KaTropa in the opener of their PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-five quarterfinal showdown at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Monday night.
The TNT team, however, cried foul over the officiating and hinted at placing the result of the game under protest.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said the Texters have until 12 noon today to formalize their protest with the corresponding P20,000 bond.
Renaldo Balkman and June Mar Fajardo made a killing underneath the basket when Smith was already confined on the bench, starring in a vicious 18-4 closing run the Beermen unleashed to salvage the game that the Texters dominated in the first three quarters.
“That game was scary. We didn’t think we would be able to recover from a big deficit,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.
“They were very sharp with their shooting. Kelly Williams was making important shots. But I have to give credit to my players; they didn’t give up. They were saying we just have to cut it down to 14 at the half and to single digit by the fourth quarter and we would have our chance. They’re an experienced team; they really know how to win,” Austria also said.
Balkman produced 36 points while Fajardo piled up 27, with the bulk of those numbers they started pouring in as Smith picked up his fourth foul midway through the third period.
With Smith incurring his fifth and sixth fouls with almost four minutes left to play, the Beermen tore TNT apart on unstoppable inside incursions by Balkman and Fajardo.
The Beermen actually scored 16 unanswered points in a crucial stretch in the fourth quarter, and led by 13 at 119-106 entering the final minute of the game.
The Texters stormed out of the starting block, taking the opening quarter at 40-21 on a remarkable shooting marked by eight three-pointers by Williams, Tony Semerad, Jericho Cruz, Troy Rosario, Jayson Castro and Terrence Romeo.
They then enjoyed their 23-point spread at 46-23 before settling for a 62-48 cushion at halftime.
But the Texters lost momentum as Smith was called his fourth foul, and the triumvirate of Balkman, Fajardo and Marcio Lassiter fueled their initial rally as SMB came to within two, 86-88, at the end of the third.
Lassiter sizzled with 4-of-8 treys and finished with 26 markers.
Smith came up with 17 points and eight rebounds before fouling out. He was 8-of-9 from the field but missed six of seven free throws.