San Miguel seizes 3-0 lead vs TNT

TALK ‘N TEXT’s Kelly Williams (front) loses his balance while San Miguel Beer’s June Mar Fajardo looks on during Game 3 of their semifinal showdown. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

With a fiery word war off the court providing a very interesting sidelight, San Miguel Beer pushed all the distractions aside and put a foot in the Finals of the PBA Philippine Cup.

Alex Cabagnot scored the marginal free throw in the final 9.2 seconds last night for a 96-95 win as the Beermen moved within another victory of sweeping Talk ‘N Text in their best-of-seven semifinal series at Mall of Asia Arena.

“We were able to salvage this one, a very emotional game,” San Miguel coach Leo Austria said. “I told my players that we should not be affected by what is happening (outside of the court). There is a word war and they can feel it.”

June Mar Fajardo then sealed the win for the Beermen by plucking down the game’s final board, which was off a Ranidel de Ocampo miss with 1.5 seconds remaining as San Miguel put the Tropang Texters into a 0-3 hole for the first time in the history of their franchise.

The potential clincher is slated the day after Christmas also at the Pasay venue at 7 p.m.

Game 3 was easily the best of this series as the game hung in the balance all night.

Arwind Santos, the MVP two seasons ago, scored 23 points despite being saddled with early fouls, and Marcio Lassiter, Fajardo and Rico Maierhofer finished in twin digits in a balanced scoring attack.

De Ocampo paced the Texters with 21 points and Jason Castro added 15.

Talk ‘N Text got a total of five players scoring 10 or more but still couldn’t find a way to stop the Beermen, who won the series opener, 109-86, and Game 2, 87-81, after Fajardo went a perfect 11-for-11 from the stripe on Sunday.

After that game, Talk ‘N Text coach Jing Uichico was quoted as saying that San Miguel was getting favored by the referees, a statement that had SMC governor Robert Non firing back.

PLDT governor Ricky Vargas then joined the fray and questioned Non’s decorum on the bench.

“I just told the players to not be affected by what we have heard or read,” Austria said.

The playoffs take a break today and will resume tomorrow with Game 4 of the Rain or Shine-Alaska series, which the Aces lead, 2-1. That game is slated at 4 p.m.

The scores:

SAN MIGUEL BEER 96—Santos 23, Fajardo 18, Lassiter 17, Maierhofer 10, Cabagnot 9, Lutz 8, Tubid 7, Ross 2, Kramer 2, Omolon 0, Pascual 0, Fortuna 0, Semerad 0, Chua 0.

TALK ‘N TEXT 95—De Ocampo 21, Castro 15, Washington 12, Alapag 11, Reyes R. 10, Rosser 9, Carey 7, Fonacier 7, Aban 3, Alas 0, Reyes R.J. 0, Williams 0, Espiritu 0.

Quarters: 26-28, 49-55, 75-76, 96-95