In the two games San Miguel played in the championship round of the PBA Philippine Cup, a recurring theme has so far clouded over the four-peat seeking defending champion.
The Beermen have squandered big leads that prevented them from taking a stable 2-0 lead in the series against Magnolia.
With the series tied at 1-1, star wingman Marcio Lassiter said they have to put an immediate stop to their late-game musings.
“We just can’t relax, the full 48 minutes is our goal,” said Lassiter Wednesday after practice at Acropolis Clubhouse. “We need to keep that in our heads that we know there are certain plays that might not go our way or we might not make shots.”
“But we should always continue to be strong, that’s what we’re good at, we just have to continue doing it for 48 minutes.”
San Miguel was steamrolling Magnolia for the better part of Game 1, even leading, 72-52, in the third quarter, but ultimately collapsed in the fourth quarter.
Magnolia outscored San Miguel, 30-14, in the fourth quarter to take the series opener, 105-103.
Game 2 almost ended in similar fashion when the Beermen almost let go of a 21-point lead, 73-52, late in the third quarter, before holding on for the 92-77 victory.
The Hotshots managed to trim the lead to just eight, 75-68, at the 8:26 mark of the fourth after Robbie Herndon capped off a 13-0 run.
San Miguel was able to respond to Magnolia’s Game 2 hijinks with its own scoring spurt, 12-3 run, which four-time MVP June Mar Fajardo capped off with a jumper for the Beermen’s 87-71 lead with 4:10 left in the game.
Lassiter added that the opportunity to win their fourth straight Philippine Cup is too big of a chance to let it slip away since no team in PBA history has topped the All-Filipino conference for four straight years.
“This fourth one will put is in history, it means a lot to me and it means a lot to all the members of the team and the organization,” said Lassiter, who’s averaging 18.5 points, 3.5 boards, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks in the first two games of the series.
“We know how much hard work we put in and we’re not just going to let this slide.”