After winning by 24 points in Game 2, the San Miguel Beermen are gearing for another win in their next encounter with the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
Coach Jorge Gallent said playing as a team and JuneMar Fajardo’s role inside the paint will once again play big, decisive factors in Game 3.
“We play as a team, we play as a unit, everybody comes to practice together, and everybody works as a team inside the court,” said Gallent.
The Beermen head into Game 3 with a 2-0 lead in their best-of seven final series, after having pulled off a 109-85 swamping of the Hotshots in Game 2.
Game time is set at 7:30 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum.
Hotshots’ coach Chito Victolero believes that a lot of adjustments will be needed when they confront the Beermen for the third straight time.
“We need to fix our transition defense also because they had so many threes, especially in the first quarter,” said Victolero.
In Game 2, Bennie Boatwright top-scored for the Beermen with 34 points, 23 in the first half. He also had 10 rebounds, and five assists.
CJ Perez scored 20 points, while Fajardo had 14 boards and 19 points, including back-to-back triples in the last two minutes.
Gallent talked about the importance of Fajardo’s inside presence, and the defense he plays during crucial moments of the game.
“Junemar does a lot for the team, especially on defense, especially when he gets a ball at the post. He can do a lot of things,” added Gallent.
A day before gametime, Calvin Abueva of Magnolia and San Miguel big man Mo Tautuaa are scheduled to appear before Commissioner Willie Marcial, following their Sunday’s post-game incident.
The two players and their wives got involved in a post-game quarrel at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Their confrontation happened at the hallway leading to the locker rooms.
Abueva was also seen mocking SMB coach Jorge Gallent’s physical disability during the game.