SMB braces for tough closeout game against embattled TNT

Game on Wednesday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
*SMB lead series, 3-1
7:30 p.m. TNT vs San Miguel
(finals Game 5)

BACK in the summit or back in the series?

At the end of Wednesday’s Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals, San Miguel Beermen (SMB) seek to be raising a toast to its return to the old throne after disappointing finishes since its last triumph.

But TNT stands in defiance, raring to rain down on the Beermen’s grand closeout plans and stay alive amid tremendous odds.

“Not quiting!” the Tropang 5G said in a social media post that characterized their mindset on the eve of the 7:30 p.m. duel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Down 1-3, it’s literally a “one-miss, you-die” situation for coach Chot Reyes’ embattled crew.

Lose this one and it’s not only “Goodbye, All-Filipino crown” but also “Goodbye, Grand Slam” for the reigning Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup champions.

So count on the Tropang 5G to throw everything they’ve got to extend the race-to-four to a sixth match and keep their Triple Crown drive going.

And that’s exactly what SMB — gunning for its first championship since the Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup and atonement for totally missing the playoffs in its failed defense of that crown last conference — is bracing for.

The Beermen put themselves in position to achieve their mission by winning Games 2 to 4, 98-92, 108-88 and 105-91, after dropping the drama-filled opener, 96-99.

“The closeout game’s the hardest but we got a lot of veterans in that locker room,” said seasoned guard Chris Ross.

For now, Mr. Ross said the important thing, as San Miguel Corp. sports director Alfrancis Chua emphasized to the team, is to “stay grounded.”

“We know that the job’s not finished and we’re going to go into Wednesday like we need to win this game. So we’re going to prepare and try to put our best foot forward on Wednesday.” — Olmin Leyba