Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
MANILA, Philippines — Jericho Cruz hit big shots down the stretch and helped the San Miguel Beermen hang on against the Magnolia Hotshots, 108-98, in Game 5 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After the Hotshots trailed by as much as 14 points early in the final frame, they cut the lead to just three, 96-99, with a 6-0 run powered by Tyler Bey with 1:14 remaining.
San Miguel then milked the clock, and the ball found the hands of Chris Ross who then dished the rock to a wide-open Cruz waiting in the right corner.
Cruz’s high-looper from beyond the arc found the bottom of the net as the Beermen took a 102-96 lead with 53 seconds remaining.
A pair of freebies by Bey helped Magnolia inch closer, 102-98, with 48 seconds left.
A couple of makes from the free throw line by Boatwright, a breakaway dunk by CJ Perez and a breakaway layup by Ross sealed the deal.
Cruz led the Beermen with a playoff career-high-tying 30 points off the bench, along with seven rebounds and four assists.
Boatwright finished with 21 points and six rebounds, while June Mar Fajardo had 18 points and nine rebounds.
Enciso had 15 points, with all of his field goals coming from beyond the arc.
Bey led the Hotshots with 34 markers and eight boards.
The Beermen led by 14, 82-68, in the first few minutes of the fourth quarter as they started the frame with six straight points.
Magnolia then cut the lead to just seven, 82-75, as Ian Sangalang and Aris Dionisio uncorked a 7-0 run.
Cruz then hit back-to-back 3-pointers to push the lead anew to 13, 88-75, with 7:36 remaining in the game.
After Paul Lee answered with a deuce, surprise starter Simon Enciso replied with a 3-pointer of his own, grabbing a 91-77 cushion for the Beermen.
After an 8-0 run off of two 3-pointers by Bey and a layup by Jio Jalalon helped Magnolia inch closer, 91-85, with a little over five minutes remaining, Bennie Boatwright made an and-one play to regain a nine-point lead.
Jalalon had an and-one play of his own, but missed his free throw.
And, on the other end, Cruz made another trey to grab a 97-87 lead.
A 9-2 run by Magnolia set the 99-96 score, setting the stage for the wild finale.
With the win, San Miguel is now holding a 3-2 series lead.
They will try to win the championship on Wednesday’s Game 6 at the same venue.
— Ralph Edwin Villanueva
*****
Credit belongs to: www.philstar.com
