It wasn't the kind of night where the San Miguel Beermen leaned on offense to win the game. But they did just enough to hammer out a 98-86 victory over Magnolia in Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup finals on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
For the first time in the best-of-seven series, the Beermen emerged victorious by scoring fewer than 100 points. The four-time defending champions turned to defense to force the deciding Game 7.
Game 7 is on Wednesday at the Big Dome.
The Beermen went on a 14-1 tear to open the fourth period to take a comfortable 82-63 buffer. But what's notable is that the team known more for its high-powered offense limited the Hotshots to a pair of field goals in the first six minutes of the fourth period.
Magnolia scored 24 points in the final frame but most of them came in garbage time when the game was already decided.
"What happened is that we played good defense tonight," said SMB head coach Leo Austria after the game.
"You can see from the players that they didn't want to lose. Now we have a good chance to grab the championship again."
While the second group of Christian Standhardinger, Terrence Romeo, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, and Von Pessumal led the defense, June Mar Fajardo was once again at the forefront of the Beermen's attack. The reigning five-time MVP finished with 23 points, 18 rebounds, two assists, and the same number of blocks.
Marcio Lassiter also stepped up, scattering 20 points with three 3-pointers to go with seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Chris Ross and Standhardinger had 17 and 16 points, respectively.
"It was a team effort. Players really wanted to step up. We didn't want to the series to end tonight. We were really just locked in," said Lassiter.
Jio Jalalon paced Magnolia with 17 points, four rebounds, and eight assists. Mark Barroca, who has been the most consistent Hotshot player in the series, contributed only six points while going 0-for-3 from 3.
Magnolia coach Chito Victorlero said the team remains optimistic.
"We're still positive. We knew it's not going to be easy. The good thing is that there's an opportunity to win so we will grab it," Victolero said.
THE SCORES
San Miguel 98 - Fajardo 23, Lassiter 20, Ross 17, Standhardinger 16, Romeo 9, Santos 8, Cabagnot 3, Rosser 0, Pessumal 0.
Magnolia 86 - Jalalon 17, Reavis 16, Sangalang 14, Brondial 12, Lee 10, Barroca 6, Dela Rosa 5, Herndon 5, Melton 4, Simon 0, Pascual 0.
Quarterscores: 25-12, 50-36, 68-62, 98-86.
EXTRA DRIBBLES
- Magnolia made only one basket from 3 in the first half -- a Jalalon buzzer-beater heading into halftime. In all, Magnolia only shot 3-of-16 from that range.
-The Hotshots outscored the much taller Beermen in the paint, 56-34. But it was the Beermen who got more second chance points, 31-11.