SMB tries to close rebounding gap in Game 4
MANILA, Philippines – By their own coach's admission, the San Miguel Beermen have been quite lucky in the past two games of their best-of-five semifinals series against the Star Hotshots in the 2017 PBA Commissioner's Cup.
After a 105-109 loss in Game 1, San Miguel has won the past two games by the skin of their teeth. A missed shot by Paul Lee gave them a 77-76 win in Game 2; Marcio Lassiter then banked in a triple with 1.6 seconds left for a 111-110 Game 3 victory.
"Well, ang masasabi ko, talagang swerte kami," SMB coach Leo Austria said after Game 3 on Wednesday night. "But ang swerte, talagang pumupunta kapag magaling ang player."
That their past two games have a combined margin of victory of two points is of no issue to Austria. "Nanalo kami ng one point noong nakaraan, and again one point (tonight). It doesn't matter for us. Basta nasa amin 'yung W," he said.
Nevertheless, Austria's players know that they cannot rely on luck alone to close out the Hotshots in Game 4 on Friday. All three games in the series have gone down the wire, and they are expecting another grind it out contest, with Star trying to do all it can to extend the series.
"It's going to be like that when there are two really good teams. We're not really going to get a blowout," said Chris Ross, who had 27 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists in Game 3. "They have a really good import, they're a really good team (and) they're coached well."
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After a 105-109 loss in Game 1, San Miguel has won the past two games by the skin of their teeth. A missed shot by Paul Lee gave them a 77-76 win in Game 2; Marcio Lassiter then banked in a triple with 1.6 seconds left for a 111-110 Game 3 victory.
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| SMB import Charles Rhodes (0) battles for positioning with Star import Ricardo Ratliffe. Richard Esguerra, ABS-CBN Sports |
That their past two games have a combined margin of victory of two points is of no issue to Austria. "Nanalo kami ng one point noong nakaraan, and again one point (tonight). It doesn't matter for us. Basta nasa amin 'yung W," he said.
Nevertheless, Austria's players know that they cannot rely on luck alone to close out the Hotshots in Game 4 on Friday. All three games in the series have gone down the wire, and they are expecting another grind it out contest, with Star trying to do all it can to extend the series.
"It's going to be like that when there are two really good teams. We're not really going to get a blowout," said Chris Ross, who had 27 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists in Game 3. "They have a really good import, they're a really good team (and) they're coached well."
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