San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent in Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent has a chance to reverse the fate he was dealt with in the previous conference.
In the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup, the Beermen were swept and disposed of by Ginebra in the semifinals after three games.
Now, after San Miguel’s 106-96 win over the Gin Kings in Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals, Gallent is in prime position to take revenge for the heartbreak of yesteryear dealt by Tim Cone.
But that’s nowhere in the mind of the veteran tactician despite being a win away from the PBA Finals.
“We’re just playing it one game at a time. If it’s there [sweep], it’s there. If it’s not then we just have to work harder but motivation-wise, it’s not there. We’re on the third ladder,” said Gallent at Mall of Asia Arena on Friday.
“A win is a win on Sunday but if it’s not, then we just have to work harder on Wednesday but of course, we want to try and finish it on Sunday. I’m sure Ginebra is going to come prepared and we’re just going to grind it out.”
San Miguel’s Marcio Lassiter and coach Jorge Gallent after taking a 2-0 lead over Ginebra. | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/v0LDcmU4Os
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) January 26, 2024
Like in the opening game of the best-of-five series, San Miguel had to duke it out with Cone’s men until the final buzzer.
The Beermen turned to the troika of import Bennie Boatwright, CJ Perez and Marcio Lassiter who scored 38, 17 and 16 points to keep the Gin Kings at bay.
To add to the splendor of San Miguel’s victory, seven-time league MVP June Mar Fajardo looked like his prime self with a double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds with a career-high six blocks to match.
The combined efforts of the squad’s “Death 15″–as Gallent dubbed it–gives him a positive outlook heading into Sunday, saying it’s a good indication that the team “knows how to win” in the clutch.
“Our players are very composed already. They know how to win, how to do things, especially in the end game. Players are good, hats off to them. They know how to win, this Death 15. Not Death Five.”