WHO will take the important upperhand?
A vital series edge is on the line for San Miguel Beer and Rain or Shine in the continuation of their physical and hotly contested best-of-seven semifinal affair in the 2015-16 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.
With the series knotted at 2-2, the all-important Game 5, slated tonight at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, will be much coveted by both teams as a 3-2 edge will bring the victor closer to the finals.
Continuing to fully impose his strength and will inside, reigning Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo towed the Beermen to a huge 105-92 victory in Game 4 Monday night as SMB avoided a huge hole and levelled the series.
The Cebuano behemoth unleashed game-highs of 33 points and 15 rebounds in Game 4 and he, along with his supporting cast, proved to be too much for the Elasto Painters to handle the last time out.
San Miguel coach Leo Austria wants his defending champion Beermen to repeat what they did in Game 4.
“Sana ma-duplicate namin ‘yung nagawa namin nung Game 4,’’ said Austria.
But the two-time champion coach said he expects a lot more from Rain or Shine.
“Marami pang baraha si Coach Yeng (Guiao). We need to be smart especially sa end game,’’ added Austria.
Adjustments will be the name of the game for Rain or Shine now.
“It’s a best-of-three now. We will make the adjustments,’’ said Painters coach Yeng Guiao, who expressed confidence in his team’s chances as well. “We know we can beat them (San Miguel).”
The Elasto Painters are missing two key players in Raymund Almazan and Jericho Cruz, who were both out due to injuries, and the void of those two cagers wasn’t filled out in Game 4, resulting in Rain or Shine’s fall.
“We did not run as much as we wanted in that game. We would have wanted to run more but we missed Jericho (Cruz) there and we’re missing Raymund (Almazan) in the rebounding department as well,’’ admitted Guiao.
While Almazan was already ruled out of the series because of his ankle injury, the good news for Rain or Shine is that Cruz might return and play in Game 5 should his banged-up knee feel better. He will be a game-time decision.
“He (Cruz) just hyper-extended his knee and there’s no serious damage. I will use him if his doctor will recommend him to play. We will need him,’’ added Guiao.
Game Today
(Game 5, Semifinals – Smart Araneta Coliseum):
7 p.m. – San Miguel vs. Rain or Shine