After two blowouts to open the series, Game 5 do or die of the Semifinals between the Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer was shaping up to be a classic, until a late surge by the crowd favorite put the game -– and perhaps the championship -– out of reach for the defending champions over 20,000 fans at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Ginkings massacred the Beermen117-92, on Tuesday night to move closer to rewarding its legions of fans a PBA championship they have long yearned for.
Arwind Santos was one of the few bright spots for the Beermen with 24 points built around four triples as import Elijah Millsap added 18 markers, although 14 of his output came in the fourth quarter where the outcome had already been sealed.
Cone, who sealed his 30th finals appearance, said that Meralco can’t be considered a rookie in the big stage with veterans like its coaching staff, headed by Norman Black, and leader Jimmy Alapag.
The scores:
Ginebra 117 – Brownlee 26, Thompson 24, Mercado 22, Tenorio 18, Mariano 11, Devance 6, Aguilar 5, Caguioa 2, Helterbrand 2, Marcelo 1, Cruz 0, Villamor 0
SMB 92 – Santos 24, Millsap 18, Lassiter 11, Cabagnot 10, Heruela 9, David 7, Fajardo 7, Reyes 3, Ross 3, Arana 0, De Ocampo 0, Espinas 0, Semerad 0, Tubid 0
Quarterscores: 33-12, 45-38, 81-53, 117-92