San Miguel equalizes

In full control of the game, it was déjà vu for San Miguel Beer after seeing a comfortable lead whittle away.

The Beermen refused to get carried by the same storyline and survived a late onslaught by the Magnolia Hotshots to even their PBA Philippine Cup championship series, 92-77, on Sunday night at Mall of Asia Arena.

Arwind Santos led the resurrection of the Beermen after the Hotshots reduced a huge advantage down to a manageable level and threatened to replicate their come-from-behind Game 1 victory.

“Good thing we recovered,” said Santos, who hit the long three that sparked a decisive run by the Beermen.

Climbing out of a 21-point hole, the Hotshots opened the final period with timely snipings from Kyle Pascual and Mark Barroca to pull within seven while holding the Beermen scoreless in that span.

Santos stopped the bleeding with that three and Chris Ross mounted a counter offensive with June Mar Fajardo and Marcio Lassiter that dashed the hopes of Magnolia to seize a commanding lead in the best-of-seven series.

“Now, it’s down to a best-of-five series,” said Santos as the battle for the prestigious all-
Filipino crown take a six-day break in observance of the Holy Week. Game 3 is slated April 1.

Santos burned the hoops with 24 points, highlighted by six three-pointers out of his team’s 13 threes, the Beermen’s weapon of choice after Magnolia focused its defense on Fajardo.

“We’ll rest for the next 24 hours and go back on the court to practice for three straight days,” said SMB coach Leo Austria.

Fajardo, the league’s Most Valuable Player the past four seasons, got bottled up in the lane and finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

The scores:

SAN MIGUEL 92—Santos 24, Lassiter 16, Cabagnot 15, Fajardo 12, Heruela 10, Ganuelas-Rosser 6, Ross 5, Mamaril 4, De Ocampo 0, Vigil 0.

MAGNOLIA 77—Barroca 18, Lee 13, Sangalang 11, Dela Rosa 7, Ramos 7, Jalalon 6, Pascual 4, Reavis 4, Brondial 3, Herndon 2, Simon 2, Mendoza 0.
Quarters: 19-17, 48-35, 75-57, 92-77