Already smelling blood, San Miguel Beer goes for the kill as it aims to win the crown and finish off TNT KaTropa in their best-of-seven finals of the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup.
A game away from the title with their 3-2 lead, the Beermen eye their second straight championship this season, while the Tropang Texters hope to extend the series in their Game 6 tilt at 7 p.m. today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Staring at a second straight championship, San Miguel wants to continue its dynasty and doesn’t plan on playing a Game 7 anymore as it goes all out in its hopes of hoisting up the jewel.
“I’m happy we got the lead now and we can win the championship,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria. “It’s better for us to end it in Game 6 because anything can happen if it goes to a Game 7.”
“We’re looking forward to playing good basketball and win the championship,” added Chris McCullough, who was the main reason why San Miguel is on the verge of another title.
Led by McCullough’s gutsy plays, San Miguel turned in one of the most memorable comebacks in history as it took Game 5 in dramatic fashion.
After trailing by 16 points early in the fourth, McCullough scored 19 of his 35 points in the game’s last 10 minutes to lead San Miguel to a tremendous 99-94 come from behind win over TNT last Wednesday night in yet another thriller.
McCullough’s production included the go-ahead bucket with 25 seconds left that basically enabled the Beermen to take the game.
Down but not yet out, the Tropang Texters, who have lost two in a row after taking a 2-1 series lead, look to extend the series to a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday.
They hope to shake off the bitter taste of their previous setback in order to live for another day.
Terrence Jones also had 35 points in Game 5 but committed costly turnovers and missed shots down the stretch.