Caught flat-footed by a Sta. Lucia ambush Wednesday, San Miguel returned armed to the teeth and got back at the Realtors with an 86-78 victory in Game Two of the PBA Governors Cup best-of-seven title playoff at the Philsports Arena.
This time, the Beermen kept the Realtors from running the breaks while brandishing their old rapier-sharp offense anchored on Lamont Strothers and Dan Seigle as they regained their winning ways, thus forcing a one-game deadlock in the series.
With the momentum shifting on their side and with a number of their players most likely soaring high with individual awards tucked under their jerseys, the Beermen could be the odds-on pick as they play the Realtors in Game Three tomorrow.
"It’s going to be a crucial game. We’ll see who’ll succumb to the pressure," said San Miguel coach Jong Uichico.
With the Game one defeat and the departure of old mainstay Freddie Abuda on a trade with Tanduay’s Dondon Hontiveros, the Beermen played extra emotional and took control most of the way.
They erected a 44-34 lead at the half and, though blowing hot and cold in the final half, they were headed by the Realtors till the end.
Strothers, Seigle and Olsen Racela took turns in delivering the goods for the Beermen as they combined for nearly three-fourth of the team’s output.
Strothers and Seigle waxed hottest in the fourth quarter as the duo joined hands in staying off the Realtors last-ditch stand. They scored 18 points together in the payoff period.
"We survived playing without Danny S. for a long time but we need him badly in the finals. Lamont, meanwhile, is so unselfish and he’s been working hard on both ends of the court," said Uichico.
Uichico, however, said the story of the game last night was their good defense, which took away transition points for Sta. Lucia.
"We can’t afford to let them score in the high 90s. We have to play good defense to beat them," he said.
Incidentally, the Beermen yielded only six fastbreak points to the Realtors last night.
What turned out to be another big factor in the contest was the Beermen sending the key Sta. Lucia players Marlou Aquino, Dennis Espino, Gerard Francisco and Damien Owens to early foul trouble.