SMB wants ‘Happy Hour’

MANILA, Philippines — Will it be “Happy Hour” for San Miguel Beer at the end of Game 6?

That’s certainly what the Beermen are poised for tonight with just one more victory needed to repeat as PBA Philippine Cup kings at the expense of TNT.

But ever the no-quitters, the Tropang 5G are bent on making it a hill-hill duel with SMB instead and grabbing a shot at stealing the Season 50 crown altogether in a sudden death Game 7.

“If that’s the task at hand, that’s the task at hand. We’re going to do everything we can to do that,” rifleman Jordan Heading said of the arduous job TNT faces.

The critical sixth game blasts off 7:30 p.m. at the SM MOA Arena.

“We should be motivated having this opportunity,” said SMB coach Leo Austria, whose troops surged ahead, 3-2, with a crucial 96-82 win spiked by a dramatic comeback from 16 down and big plays by backup big Rodney Brondial last Friday.

“But it’s not going to be easy because TNTs back is against the wall and we know what they’re capable of. Just look at what happened in Game 4,” added Austria.

He was referring to their rivals’ gutsy bounceback from a two-game slide to tie the series at 2-2 via a 110-87 romp last Wednesday.

“May chance pa naman makabawi,” said TNT center Poy Erram. “Kailangan namin maglaro ng buong-buo, 48, hindi ‘yung mga 22 minutes lang tulad ‘nung Game 5.”

With SMB’s previous winning outings dependent on how Brondial and Co. would perform, Austria’s bench mob needs to be at their most productive to heighten the side’s chance of success.

This is especially important now with superstar June Mar Fajardo dealing with a right knee injury.

“Sa tingin ko, kaya naman. Pahinga lang siguro, tapos therapy lang ako,” said JMF, who slammed his knee on the hardwood after losing his balance off a push in the third quarter but went on to return in the fourth of Game 5.