Who will have the leverage?
In a nip-and-tuck war, it’s essential for the combatants to gain every advantage they can get and that’s exactly what San Miguel Beer and TNT KaTropa are thinking of as they break the tie in their continuing best-of-seven championship showdown in the finals of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup.
With the series tied 2-2, Game 5 proves to be critical as both protagonists fight for control at 7 p.m. tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The intense and highly-competitive finale continued to roll the other night in Game 4 with both teams seeking different agendas.
Eventually, it was the Tropang Texters who emerged victorious, 102-97, to avoid a 1-3 deficit and instead, square the series off at 2-2.
With an even playing field now, the finalists are expected to go all out to inch a step closer towards claiming the coveted championship.
After a sub-par Games 2 and 3, TNT reinforcement Joshua Smith bounced back strong in Game 4, tallying 20 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Tropang Texters.
It was then TNT star Jason Castro who finished off the Beermen in the waning minutes with his dazzling offense on his way to 17 points.
This one-two punch needs to continue playing well for the Texters to repeat over the Beemen, who on the other hand needs Best Player of the Conference Chris Ross, who only had eight points in Game 4, to regain his touch to get back on track.
San Miguel twin-towers June Mar Fajardo and Charles Rhodes also need to stay out of foul trouble to give their team a better chance of winning.
In four games thus far, the duo, due to Smith’s inside incursions, found themselves in foul trouble for most part of games, limiting their minutes and their contributions.
In fact, Fajardo fouled out in Game 4, paving the way for TNT KaTropa to execute easier down the stretch with him being out in the crucial juncture of the contest.
