MANILA, Philippines — San Miguel Beer survived Barangay Ginebra’s familiar fourth quarter comeback to pull off a 115-109 win, moving to within a victory from returning to the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup finals on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Battle-tested stars June Mar Fajardo and Marcio Lassiter bounced back from poor performances in Game 4 as the SMB duo accounted for 21 of the Beermen’s 25 points in the last period to carry their team to a 3-2 semifinal series advantage.
The defending champion San Miguel can finish off Ginebra come Friday in Game 6 at the Big Dome.
TNT already secured the first seat in the Finals following its 99-96 win against Meralco.
Fajardo finished the game with a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Cj Perez added 20.
Mo Tautuaa chipped in 18, Lassiter added 16 on four-of-six shooting from three-point range, while Don Trollano scored 13.
Scottie Thompson led Ginebra with 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, RJ Abarrientos scored 18, Stephen Holt 17, while Japeth Aguilar 16.