After a neck-and-neck combat in the first half, San Miguel Beer cut loose in the third en route to a monstrous 132-94 swamping of Barangay Ginebra- a record margin for a PBA Finals- to grab a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven series in the ongoing 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioners’ Cup Finals at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.
SMB's 38-point winning margin tied the record in a championship game held by Alaska when it crushed SMB, 99-61, in Game 6 of the 1998 All-Filipino Conference.
Chris Ross bounced back after a dismal Game 2 as he finished with 23 points and 4 steals.
He put on a long-range show to lead the Beermen, while Justin Brownlee spearheaded the Kings with 32 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assists.
“That’s it, step on the gas. We wanted to up our intensity defensively. I played through injuries, I played through blood. As long as I am out there, that I could walk and get my hands and feet, I’ll be able to play,” said Ross after sustaining a cut in the game.
The Beermen will be seeking a commanding 3-1 series lead on Friday.
