Director Leo Austria said San Miguel Beer’s talented bench felt the urge to go down the big path due to a calf injury, Mar Fajardo’s limited mobility in June.
“When I learned that March of June would manage or play at my discretion, all players thought they had to step up,” Austria said after returning to Barangay Ginebra in a 100-83 defeat at Ninoiaquino Stadium on Friday.
The victory brought San Miguel to collapse in Game 1 despite an 18-point lead, tying the Best of Seven semi-final series in the PBA Philippine Cup 1-1, behind veteran Marcio Lassiter, Big Man Mo Totua and backup guard Chris Rosales.
Lassiter dropped 8 of 16 points in the first quarter to set the tone for Beeman, while Tautziaa came when Fajardo played in just 17 minutes to pick up the slack, posting 10 points and 10 rebounds, and part of Rosales came when he needed to dousing cold water in another ginking.
Behind them, San Miguel was effectively in cruise control, but was giving Fajardo a time to rest amid the calf problems that bothered him in Game 1.
“We always say that the strength of our team is in March of June,” Austria said in Filipino. “But don’t forget, the strength of June and March was his teammate and was clear in this game.”
Fajardo had two points and seven rebounds in limited action. Austria chose to put him on the bench and place the Tootuaa on the pivot.
Tautzia was praised by Austria as she felt that San Miguel was able to survive the dilemma of Fajardo’s injury.
Despite the victory, Fajardo’s status still plays a factor for the rest of the series, including Sunday’s Game 3 at Smart Araneta Coliseum, defeating a 1-1 tie.
Ginebra struggled with a failed bid to take away the advantage of ordering 17-point double-digit Stephen Holt 2-0. Scotty Thompson finished with just nine points and six rebounds.
Meanwhile, TNT was aiming to make it twice in a row over rain and glow in other semi-final series that are playing during press.
Tropang 5G won 98-91 at SM Mall of Asia Arena last Wednesday, with another victory that made them shy to reach the final and the final obstacle to a historic Grand Slam bid.
Rain and Brilliance were aiming to embrace underdog labels and force the split of the first two games.
Lassiter ran out of two triples and set a 12-3 start for Beeman. That burst affected the entire team who played efficiently the rest of the way.
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The league’s highest three-point shooter in history later praised San Miguel’s number of players in double digits, saying, “We can put pressure on him. [Ginebra] Following the lower scored semi-opener.”
Don Trolano added 14 points and Rosales had the key basket when Ginebra reduced the gap to nine in a third. Meanwhile, Jericho Cruz and CJ Perez added 11 each.
