The San Miguel Beermen is scheduled for a head-to-head game against the Purefoods-Star Hotshots at 7:00 P.M. on June 14, 2017 in Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The semi-finals series between the Hotshots and the Beermen is back to square one as both team tied at 1-1.
Their best-of-five is now converted to a best-of-three which means that this evening match is a renewed Game 1.
Mark Barroca had the chance to tie the game with 43 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter after Marcio Lassiter fouled him.
However, Barroca wasn’t able to convert his bonus free-throw and the Beermen was still ahead 77-76.
In the next San Miguel position, again Barroca gave the Hotshots another chance to take the game after he stole the ball from June Mar Fajardo pass to Alex Cabagnot.
Star immediately called a time out in order for coach Chito Victolero to design his last offensive play.
With time expiring, Paul Lee unable to locate an open teammate and got no choice but to make his move.
Lee drive hard to the basket but saw a blockade in his way. He threw a running shot and badly missed the rim.
Beermen secured the rebound and passed to a streaking Arwind Santos to other side of the court but wasn’t able to control the basketball.
The ball went out-of-bounced but there’s no time left on the clock and just like that SMB found itself tied at one game a piece.
Despite of the loss, coach Victolero still optimistic of how his squad performed in the semis.
“I was happy with our defense, I was happy with the aggressiveness shown by our guys. We’re not just able to execute in the end,” said Victolero.
“They just tied the series. We’re still comfortable in where we are right now,” he said.