Backbreaker

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Talk about a mighty rally and San Miguel Beer had one Monday night.

Talk about an ego-deflating setback and Rain or Shine would need to bounce back from one in order to stay alive.
The Beermen roared back from 29 points down in the second quarter and still blasted the Elasto Painters to bits, 117-105, that moved San Miguel within another win of a sweep and a Finals seat in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Chris Ross put together a sensational shooting performance that cranked up the San Miguel armada, hitting triples at will to help the Beermen climb out of a 50-21 deficit and into a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Ross finished with a career-high 34 points built around a 10-for-16 clip from beyond the arc, leading the Beermen in their swashbuckling rally that coach Leo Austria later said was unbelievable.

“This game is unbelievable. I’m really surprised. We were down 29 and then all of a sudden, we got back and took the lead,” Austria said.

The Beermen gun for the clincher Wednesday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum as another title shot would keep hopes of a second Grand Slam alive.

Three more of San Miguel’s starters tossed in twin digits, with import Chris McCullough and June Mar Fajardo holding fort on both ends.

Christian Standhardinger added 15, with Terrence Romeo shooting 12 points.

Carl Montgomery led Rain or Shine with 24 points and 15 rebounds.

“I really don’t know what transpired in the game. ROS played an almost perfect game in the first 16 minutes,” said Austria.

Meanwhile, TNT consultant Mark Dickel knows what’s about to come. And he certainly is thankful that he and his KaTropa have these many chances against Barangay Ginebra.

“I know their best game is coming in Game 3,” Dickel said as they brace for a fight back like no other from the Gin Kings, who will try to extend their reign Tuesday also at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

The KaTropa won the first two games of the best-of-five series in varying styles and have all the momentum to apply the broom and dethrone the Kings starting at 7 p.m.

Dickel, though, knows that they will have to earn this one, more than their three total victories over Ginebra here.

“I know Ginebra is a proud team, and they didn’t have their best game [on Sunday],” said Dickel, whose wards put together a scintillating performance in an 88-71 decision for a 2-0 lead that meant three chances for the KaTropa to make the Finals.

“By no means is there time to celebrate,” continued Dickel. “It feels good to be up 2-0, but ultimately, we got to get to three (wins). And they’re still alive.”

Dickel’s defensive ploy in the second game held Ginebra to its lowest output in the Justin Brownlee era, and the KaTropa chalked up the lopsided win even with import Terrence Jones coming up with his lowest-scoring game. Jones scored just 15 points but completed a triple double with 19 rebounds and 10 assists.

“They’re a proud, well-coached team. So I know they’re going to come out ready,” he said.