The San Miguel Beermen is scheduled for a head-to-head championship round Game 5 against the TNT KaTropa at 7:00 P.M. on August 14, 2019 live from the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
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The Beermen are eyeing for a series lead for the first time this championship round, yet, the KaTropa will be up for the challenge to stop them when the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals resumes this evening at the Big Dome.
As the game of basketball more particularly in the PBA starts to evolve where stretch big-men starts to be a necessary piece to win basketball, San Miguel went back to their own tested winning formula.
That’s the unleashing the “Kraken” of coach Leo Austria who won multiple championships after the arrival of June Mar Fajardo in the franchise.
“June Mar was able to play comfortably inside and that’s what we need from him,” said Austria. “The players understand what made us a great team in the past few years.”
To show his appreciation to his teammates, Fajardo made sure that he’ll deliver a monster game and lead them to another victory in Game 4.
“Hinahanap ako ng mga teammates ko. Kahit nagmimintis ako, pero hinahanap pa rin nila ako,” said the five-time MVP. “Binibigyan nila ako ng kumpiyansa, kaya kailangan suklian ko yung tiwala nila.”
For the KaTropa on the other hand, coach Bong Ravena hopes that Ryan Reyes will be able to suit up and join them for their quest.
Reyes is currently on the sidelines still nursing with his injury.
“Ang alam ko kasi four weeks yung (timetable) sa injury niya. Hindi pa natin alam kung kaya niya,” said Ravena. “Kung pipilitan niya naman, baka lumala lang.”
For them to be able to bounce back, the reigning Best Import, Terrence Jones wanted everyone to play consistent basketball from tip-off to the final buzzer for them to have a chance on getting the 3-2 series advantage.
“We have to focus on starting the same way we finish,” he said.
“I think we’re finishing games with desperation on defense and being aggressive, and everybody’s trying to win. But in the beginning, I feel we’re easing into it, and relaxing and letting guys get off and get hot or get comfortable, and when in the second half, we’re taking it away,” said the former Houston Rockets forward.
“If we just start the game how we play in the second half, I think we’ll be good,” he added.