Brutal Game 1 loss ‘lit a fire’ in Beermen to even finals series, says Lassiter

Marcio Lassiter. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

San Miguel’s brutal 127-99 Game 1 loss to Barangay Ginebra in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals was the Beermen’s worst defeat in the championship round since it lost 146-111 to the Gin Kings in the 2007 Philippine Cup.

It was a win that got chalked under the Gin Kings’ name, but it proved to be a prelude for the Beermen’s merciless vengeance.

The Beermen showed no remorse in Game 2 coming away with a devastating 134-109 victory to tie the series up at 1-1, and shooting guard Marcio Lassiter said their first game defeat left a bitter memory within them.

READ: Beermen get back at Gin Kings with blowout win in Game 2

“It lit a fire in us and we want to keep making sure that we will bring a lot of intensity for Game 3,” said Lassiter Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “We won and we didn’t want to be in a hole.”

The Beermen, with the dreadful Game 1 loss serving as a fresh memory, immediately jumped off the gates in the first quarter building a 21-10 lead off the back of four early steals.

San Miguel pushed the offense further in second quarter outscoring the Gin Kings, 41-23, in the period for a 75-46 lead heading into the break.

Lassiter, who was just one of five Beermen to score at least 20 points, said they felt embarrassed after Game 1 that they vowed to never repeat the same mistakes they did.

“We were more focused. We didn’t come out as focused in Game 1 and we really came out focused today,” said Lassiter who finished with 20 points and five assists. “We don’t want to be in a hole and down 0-2 is not a good hole to be in.”

“We knew this game meant a lot to us and we want to even the series.”