Kings slam Beermen, gain pivotal 3-2 lead

MANILA, Philippines — ScottieThompson embodied Ginebra’s gutsy stand in a grindout showdown with San Miguel Beer, firing six of the Kings’ last nine points for a close 87-83 decision worthy of a championship marked by four early blowouts in the PBA Commissioner’s best-of-seven finals last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Kings unleashed their main weapons of destruction – their smallest men – while their biggest men manned the ramparts in a game whose ending was not clear until the Beermen themselves gave in to a series of missed shots in their last attempt to equalize.

With Justin Brownlee neutralized by Chris Ross, Thompson stood tall among those who stepped up for Ginebra, scoring a team-high 20 points, including six in their 9-0 closing run in the last three minutes of the game.

In a departure from a series of routs, the Kings beat the Beermen in a low-scoring defensive battle that was evident in the homestretch.

Down by five at 78-83 in the last 3:15 mark, the Kings made one big defensive stop after another, and pulled the crucial win that sent them to the threshold of a third crown in six conferences.

They take their first of two shots at the Commissioner’s Cup title in Game Six over at the MOA Arena in Pasay City Wednesday.

“It’s about defense. It’s about making stops,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone of their four-point win in the first close match in what had been a crazy series of lopsided games.

“It’s a tough defensive battle and that’s what I like. It’s 40-all at the half, and that’s the kind of game we wanted to play. We pulled it off,” Cone also said.

Offensively, the Kings banked on Thompson, LA Tenorio, Greg Slaughter and Joe Devance for help as Brownlee was held down to 18 points and nine rebounds by Ross.

The Ginebra local aces themselves delivered in the clutch, with Thompson, Devance and Tenorio combining in their 9-0 closing romp to wild roars of the predominantly Ginebra crowd of 16,958.

“I think a lot of people were finally happy seeing a close game. But though we lost the game, I’m proud of my team. I had thought we would win the game, leading by five entering the last three minutes. But we didn’t get the breaks,” said SMB coach Leo Austria.

The Beermen were still in the game, at 83-86, in the last 23 seconds, but Arwind Santos missed a three-point attempt from way, way out, then Ross was called for a lane violation while about to take a three-point try of his own.

Tenorio nailed a charity with 2.9 seconds to go to seal the win.

Thompson collected 11 rebounds and three assists on top of his 20 markers.

The scores: 

Ginebra 87 – Thompson 20, Brownlee 18, Tenorio 15, Slaughter 13, Devance 8, J. Aguilar 8, Chan 5, Mercado 0, Cruz 0, Ferrer 0. 

San Miguel 83 – Balkman 34, Fajardo 23, Lassiter 13, Cabagnot 5, Ross 3, Standhardinger 3, Santos 2, Nabong 0. 

Quarterscores: 24-26, 40-40, 66-66, 87-83