COACH Chot Reyes putting Glenn Khobuntin to defend June Mar Fajardo in a brief stretch in Game 3 was a sad indication of the dire situation the TNT Tropang 5G have found themselves into.
And June Mar Fajardo and his teammates are not that kind to play footsie, instead sending ominous warning they're to pound any opening given by an opponent.
The Beermen see red and vow to pursue the prey, going for a 3-1 lead versus the embattled Tropang 5G in the continuation of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Sunday.
Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. shortly after the awarding of the Best Player of the Conference trophy.
Fajardo looks cinch to win the award over teammate CJ Perez, NLEX' Robert Bolick, Phoenix Super LPG's Jason Perkins and Magnolia's Zav Lucero. The SMB behemoth said he would be happy to win, but insisted the championship is his biggest desire.
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As such, JMF is bent on pushing their drive, riding the crest of a 33-point and 11-rebound juggernaut in their 108-88 rout of the shorthanded TNT Friday.
With that win and SMB's earlier 98-92 triumph in Game 2, the momentum has completed shifted over to their side.
One more win, and it would just be a matter of time the Beermen would again lay claim to the league's most coveted crown.
"Everybody is inspired. I have to give credit to their grit, talagang matatapang sila maglaro," said SMB coach Leo Austria, also noting his players' killer's instinct. "Makikita nobody gives us; even though we're leading double figures in the last two minutes, they're still there forcing TNT to commit turnovers."
In the last two games, the Tropa were actually badly beaten on many other fronts - no thanks to gaping holes in their lineup minus Jayson Castro, Rey Nambatac and Poy Erram.
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On errors, the TNT coach said it's understandable as they're without their top two point guards.
"That's a direct reflection of that. We're forcing Jordan Heading to play the point which is not his natural position," said Reyes. "We're just making do. Sana kung nan dyan si Jason at si Rey, maybe we won't be turning over the ball that much."
One thing Reyes assures is they would continue to fight.
"We just take it as it is. We have to find a way. We told our players just to keep fighting," Reyes said.
"It was too much to ask for us to win against a super powerful team like San Miguel kung kumpleto kami; ngayon pang kulang-kulang. But, you know, we're going to keep fighting and see what happens."(SB)
