Zeroes and Heroes: TNT-San Miguel semis series

Defending champion San Miguel Beer clinched its fourth finals appearance in the last seven conference but not after outlasting TNT in the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals that went the full route.

Here are our biggest takeaways from that series:

Hero: June Mar Fajardo

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Some could make a case for Chris Ross as San Miguel’s MVP of the semis series but really, June Mar Fajardo was the Beermen’s dominant force all throughout. The three-time MVP also have the numbers to back it up. He averaged 19.3 points, 14 rebounds and 3.6 blocks.

Zero: Troy Rosario

Troy Rosario. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Troy Rosario didn’t play in Game 6 due to his wedding but was he really there in the semifinals? It’s somewhat unacceptable to know that the caliber of Rosario normed just 5.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game including a scoreless Game 1.

X-factor: Chris Ross

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In San Miguel’s last three wins in the series, Chris Ross was on a different level.

Known as a defensive specialist, Ross put on a shooting clinic in Game 5 where he set a career-high 31 points built on five 3-pointers. He followed it up with a 14-points, five-assist night in Game 6 before topping it off with a near triple-double effort with 18 points, six rebounds and 11 assists in Game 7.

Turning point:

TNT Head coach Nash Racela. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

TNT had the chance to close out San Miguel in Game 6 and blew it. The KaTropa were in the game in the first two quarters but somehow, they didn’t bring it when it mattered most.