#PBA2015 SEMIS PREVIEW: SAN MIGUEL BEERMEN vs RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO-PAINTERS – WAR IN GAME FOUR!
– It has been a rock ‘em, sock ‘em awesome series so far, and Game 4 shouldn’t be any different in terms of excitement and intensity. An average of just 5 points decides every game in this series so far, so this one should prove to be a humdinger as well.
– The Beermen obviously want to clinch the last Finals slot already. They don’t want to dilly-dally against a team as dangerous as Rain or Shine, and the Beermen sure want to return to the Finals after their premature exit in the Commish Cup. It will be a rare chance for them to try and win two conference titles in one season.
– The Painters, meanwhile, should feel a little fortunate that we actually have a Game 4. If not for SMB’s monumental collapse in Game 2, we’d be previewing the Finals instead. Wendell McKines has been awesome this series, but he will need a bit more consistency from his supporting cast if they are harboring any hopes of forcing a Game 5.
Games 1-3:
SMB beat ROS, 101-95
ROS beat SMB, 113-110
SMB beat ROS, 114-108
1. AZ DOES IT
– Former ROS import AZ Reid didn’t feel too good after the collapse in Game 2 as that was his first loss to his former team since putting on the SMB colors. He bounced back big time in Game 3, showing great range after hitting 7 of his 10 triple attempts. If he lights it up again here, SMB will be in good shape.
Game 3: 37pts, 4rebs, 5asts, 3stls, 7 triples, 15/26 FGs.
2. CABAGNOT CRUSHES IT!
– One guy who stepped up from seemingly out of nowhere was Alex Cabagnot. Cabaggie caught fire from rainbow country, dropping 26 points on the strength of 5 treys. He was a 2-way player without peer last game, grabbing boards, handing out dimes, and stealing the ball thrice. If Cabangnot continues to crush it in Game 4, then that would be all she wrote for ROS.
Game 3: 26pts, 5rebs, 9asts, 3stls, 5 triples, 9/14 FGs.
3. DEFENSE INTO OFFENSE
– One thing that really helped SMB win Game 3 was its defense. The Beermen were able to force a lot of ROS turnovers and, more importantly, convert these into points. This helped break the momentum of ROS and gave the Beermen more breathing room. If SMB can continue to have stingy defense in Game 4, then ROS will be in a world of hurt.
TOs: ROS 19, SMB 17
Pts off TOs: ROS 15, SMB 23
4. MCKINES: PURE AND SIMPLE
– McKines has been a beast for ROS. That’s the pure and simple truth of it. He has been awesome on both ends of the floor, scoring, rebounding, knocking down threes. He does everything. Needless to say, the Painters will need him to continue doing just that. If McKines has a bad game, ROS may as well kiss its chances good bye.
Game 3: 39pts, 12rebs, 3asts, 1stl, 1blk, 2 triples, 12/14 FGs.
5. PAUL PUNCHES IT!
– In an effort to counter SMB’s torrid outside shooting, Paul Lee went on a tear, too. The Angas ng Tondo knocked down 4 treys in Game 3 and scored a total of 22 points. Wendell McKines won’t be able to carry ROS by his lonesome, so Lee will have to have big numbers again for the Painters to have a strong shot of forcing a fifth game.
Game 3: 22pts, 3rebs, 5asts, 1stl, 4 triples, 7/10 FGs.
6. SECOND CHANCES
One thing that helped ROS’s cause in the last game was its work on the offensive glass. With McKines and Jireh Ibañes leading the way, the Painters were able to generally outhustle SMB for all-important second chance opportunities. Needless to say, ROS will have to do that again tonight.
2nd Chance Pts: ROS 21, SMB 10
Off Rebs: ROS 14, SMB 10
McKines – 6 off rebs
Ibanes – 3 off rebs
7. KEY MATCH-UP: MARCIO LASSITER VS JEFF CHAN
– It will be a match-up of contrasts as two of the top gunners in the league face off in Game 4. Lassiter has been unconscious from long distance in this series, hitting an average of SIX triples per game. Chan, on the other hand, has struggled with his percentages, but he did hit that win-clinching three in Game 2. He is a clutch player. Who will be able to step up and give his team the needed lift in this encounter? Will it be Lassiter, who has been red-hot and is a possible candidate for Gilas Pilipinas? Or will it be Chan, who is bound to break out from his shooting slump?
Lassiter Series stats: 23.3ppg, 4.3rpg, 2.7apg, 1.7spg, 6.0 triple per game, 66.7 3pt%, 54.8 FG%.
Chan Series stats: 8.7ppg, 30rpg, 2.0 triples per game, 35.3 3pt%, 45.5 FG%.
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