With Rodney Brondial and Kris Rosales leading the San Miguel bench in Game 5, the Beermen moved a win away from the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup title.
Even the reigning Best Player of the Conference needed to tip his hat off to Rodney Brondial and Kris Rosales.
San Miguel star June Mar Fajardo acknowledged the Beermen’s bench mob, with Brondial and Rosales at the forefront, as the key difference in the team’s 96-82 win over TNT in Game 5 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals.
Fajardo gave Brondial and Rosales a shoutout after the game, as San Miguel is now in a prime position to capture back-to-back All-Filipino titles.
“Big shoutout kay Rodney tsaka kay Kris Rosales. Ganda ng nilaro nila tonight,” said Fajardo, who earlier received record-extending 13th BPC plum in Game 4.
[RELATED STORY: Rodney Brondial steps up as San Miguel nears 2nd straight PBA PH Cup title]
June Mar did put up a double-double output with 14 points and 11 rebounds, also helping the Beermen’s cause in Game 5.
But there’s no denying Brondial and Rosales were the spark plugs for the team after San Miguel trailed by as many as 16 points in the opening salvo.
Brondial, who was named Player of the Game, wound up with 17 points and 15 rebounds, to go along with two blocks. Meanwhile, Rosales made his presence on both ends of the floor to end up with 12 points and four assists.
[ALSO READ: June Mar Fajardo shrugs off knee pain as SMB goes for kill in Game 6]
“Buti nakuha namin yung panalo. Crucial sa’min Game 5. Buti nag step up lahat ng pinasok ni coach,” said Fajardo.
Now Fajardo, Brondial, Rosales, and the rest of the Beermen can get the job done when Game 6 rolls along Sunday night, Feb. 1 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
(With reports from Gillian Trinidad/One Sports Digital)
—
Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.