Marcio Lassiter had his best game yet in the series in Game 5, and he plans to sustain that fine play as the San Miguel Beermen go for the jugular in Game 6 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals.
With history within reach, the San Miguel Beermen are determined to make sure they don’t let another chance slip away.
After missing a golden opportunity to close out the series in Game 5, San Miguel looks to bounce back and finish off the TNT Tropang 5G once and for all in Game 6 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals on Friday, July 25.
Gametime is set at 7:30 p.m. at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
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Still ahead 3-2 in the best-of-seven series, the Beermen are now bracing for a revitalized TNT squad after a 78-86 loss in Game 5. A win on Friday would still net the Beermen their record-extending 30th PBA championship — and deny TNT’s bid for a Grand Slam.
“Siguro naging [kumpyansa] kami. Nag-relax. They capitalized on that," Don Trollano said.
[ALSO READ: PBA: San Miguel got complacent in Philippine Cup Finals Game 5 vs TNT, says Don Trollano]
San Miguel struggled to find its rhythm early, trailing by as much as 18 points in the fourth quarter. Despite the sluggish start, the Beermen staged a late rally and trimmed the deficit to just eight in the final minutes, only to run out of time against a TNT side powered by Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Kelly Williams, and Calvin Oftana.
Jericho Cruz once again led the Beermen with 20 points, continuing his consistent scoring run this series. Marcio Lassiter broke out of his shell with a Finals-best 15 points on three triples, while June Mar Fajardo contributed a steady 13-point, 13-rebound double-double.
[ALSO READ: Jericho Cruz rues San Miguel’s lack of effort in Game 5 loss to TNT in PBA PH Cup Finals]
But San Miguel knows moral victories won’t cut it now. With one more win still needed, they’re focused on cleaning up their execution and matching TNT’s desperation with their own championship urgency.
And with a championship legacy — and another slice of PBA history — on the line, expect the Beermen to come out swinging.
[ALSO READ: Cjay Perez refuses to be dejected after lowest output in SMB-TNT PBA title series]
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]