San Miguel Beer took coach Jorge Gallent's words to heart, resulting in a cruising 131-121 victory over Barangay Ginebra Wednesday in their PBA Governors' Cup semifinals duel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
June Mar Fajardo scored 29 points to lead five other Beermen who finished in double figures as they leveled the best-of-seven series at two games apiece and turned it into a race-to-two starting Friday.
"I just challenged them in yesterday's practice, that we just have to come out strong, bring a lot of effort, bring a lot of energy, so that we will have a great chance of winning this game and they responded really well," said Gallent.
"Kudos to them, they played their hearts out and I hope they continue to play like this in the remaining games."
SMB's resolve was typified best by Fajardo, who was limited to just eight shots and 14 points in a 94-99 loss last Sunday, but made 12 of 15 shots this time around while also collaring 16 rebounds.
As usual, the eight-time season MVP deflected some of the credit to the entire team.
"Thankful ako sa mga teammates ko, kila coach, kasi 'yun 'yung gameplan namin, 'yun 'yung adjustment namin," he said.
"Hinahanap ako ng mga teammates ko, pinapasahan nila ako sa ilalim, sa poste at buti na-shu-shoot ko," added Fajardo. "Pero nag-step up talaga buong team."
Despite an early F1 that stopped him from continuing his fine start to the game and tweaking his right ankle in the dying seconds of the second period, EJ Anosike still wound up with 27 points and 11 rebounds.
Of big help were CJ Perez's 20 and Marcio Lassiter's 15 points, the same output submitted by Don Trollano, who could only muster three points in the last two games he played.
Terrence Romeo had 14 points, including a basket that capped his two-man, 8-0 run with Fajardo that gave SMB its biggest lead of the game at 122-102.
The Beermen's well-rounded offense enabled them to withstand the 49-point explosion of Justin Brownlee, who scattered 26 of his markers in the second half.
Even the three-time Best Import awardee's herculean efforts, however, could not prevent SMB from a rampage that started when Fajardo, Anosike and Perez sparked a 15-5 exchange that yanked the Beermen out of a 62-61 count. (NC)
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