High-wire escape

San Miguel Beer found an underrated Rain or Shine crew a tough nut to crack in the opener of their best-of-five Final Four series in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Saturday night.

And while pleased with a 111-105 decision pounded out over the Elasto Painters at Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, coach Leo Austria believes his Beermen would need a lot of polishing as this series plods along.

“We are so stubborn. I think that’s one thing we have to address because they’re allowing our opponents to gain confidence,” Austria said after a tentative start that had San Miguel trailing by as large as 13 in the first quarter.

“All of our opponents say they’re the underdogs. But we’re far from playing the brand of basketball we’re capable of playing,” Austria said.

The Beermen needed a big third quarter and an even bigger finishing kick to put away the Painters and gain a huge psychological edge going into Game 2 on Monday at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Import Chris McCullough scattered 32 points and grabbed 14 boards, and together with Christian Standhardinger and Chris Ross, kept the Beermen in control throughout the final frame.

Standhardinger fired 20 points on an 8-for-10 clip. Ross finished with 19 to help offset a lackluster showing by reigning Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo, who was held to just nine points and a single rebound.

Rain or Shine drew 20 points and 17 rebounds from import Carl Montgomery. Four locals tossed in twin digits in the losing cause.

TNT shoots for a 2-0 lead over defending champion Barangay Ginebra Sunday at 6:30 p.m. also at the Big Dome.

And active consultant Mark Dickel was quick to point out that winning the series opener, 95-92, on Friday would amount to nothing if they don’t sustain it.

“Even if we get the next one, it won’t mean anything,” Dickel added.

TNT coaching staff knows that Ginebra will mount a fierce fightback, with the contest a virtual do-or-die for the defending champion Gin Kings.

The KaTropa bared their defensive teeth in Game 1 and took out the very weapon that has given Ginebra much success here, as TNT held Justin Brownlee to a solitary point in the final period of Game 1.

“We won the game with our defense and we’re gonna have to give [premium to] that every game to give ourselves a chance,” Dickel said.