Beermen bounce back, pummel Gin Kings in Game 2

MANILA, Philippines — This time, it was San Miguel Beer’s turn to display their firepower.

Behind Alex Cabagnot’s career-best scoring performance, the Beermen leveled their best-of-seven Commissioner’s Cup Finals saga with Barangay Ginebra, 134-109, Sunday at the Big Dome.

Four other Beermen chimed in at least 20 points to help in the scoring effort as if trying to give the Gin Kings a dose of their own medicine after the overwhelming display of scoring during the series opener last Friday. 

“You know what, we were so sad with what happened the last game,” head coach Leo Austria said during the post-game chat. “This time we were able to get back and even the series … They came out really furious.”

“I’m so thankful of the players because they were able to realize the importance of Game 2, because the percentage of winning a championship if you’re down 0-2 is (not so good),” he added.

“Kung obsessed yung kalaban namin last game, si Alex ganoon (ngayon) eh,” he went on to add.  “Out-hustled namin sila.” 

Cabagnot’s scoring buoyed the Beermen early. His 33 markers helped the defending conference champions build a 31-point lead that the crowd darlings had difficulty chafing.

“We watched extensive film and we like that we made adjustments. You just do your best and let got God do the rest,” the guard said offered when asked about his brilliant showing. 

“We talked about how they could turn things around … I don’t think they really believe they could, and they did.  (Coach Leo) used the word humiliating? We felt the same way today,” Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings head coach Tim Cone said when asked about being on the receiving end of a beat down.

Things got a bit chippy late in the payoff period when San Miguel’s Arwind Santos got tangled with Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson. The former was thrown out of the game for a “flagrant two” foul. Chris Ross followed him shortly after he figured in an altercation with Gin Kings’ Joe Devance and picking up his second technical foul.

.@arwindsotnas comments on the foul against @barangayginebra’s Scottie Thompson. | @sonrd #PBAFinals #PBA2018 pic.twitter.com/cJlc4oGqBu

— Philstar Sports Hub (@StarSportsHub) July 29, 2018

But Austria all that was just because of the intensity. Cabagnot added that it was just due to the stakes and the crowd’s energy.

San Miguel and Barangay Ginebra figure in a tiebreaker on Wednesday, again at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
 

The Scores:

San Miguel (134): Cabagnot 33, Fajardo 25, Lassiter 20, Balkman 20, Standhardinger 20, Santos 14, Mamaril 2, Ross 0, Lanete 0, Ganuelas-Rosser 0, Pessumal 0, Vigil 0

Ginebra (109): Brownlee 29, Devance 16, Thompson 16,  Slaughter 15, Tenorio 13, Mercado 11, Chan 4, R. Aguilar 2, Manuel 2, J. Aguilar 1, Ferrer 0, Caguioa 0, Cruz 0, Caperal 0, Mariano 0, Jamito 0

Quarter scores: 34-23, 75-46, 99-79, 134-109