San Miguel showing cracks at brink of semis demise

MANILA, Philippines – The San Miguel Beermen appeared to be tearing at the seams following a tough 98-96 loss to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Tuesday, April 26. The loss left them on the brink of a semifinals exit in the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup. 

Import Tyler Wilkerson was seen walking out of the locker room before he was called back by a member of the coaching staff and was heard going on a rant and saying, “Take me back to America. I want to go home.” 

Wilkerson played very long minutes anew, resting just 66 seconds on his way to 35 points, 18 rebounds, 5 assists and two blocks. He averaged almost 37 points before Game 2 of the best-of-5 series. 

Wilkerson has been a workhorse for San Miguel, norming nearly 43 minutes and playing a full 48-minute game twice this conference. 

Most players including June Mar Fajardo, Arwind Santos, Chris Ross, and Marcio Lassiter did not grant media interviews after the game. Head coach Leo Austria for the first time politely declined to be interviewed after emerging from the dugout with a straight face. 

Only Alex Cabagnot spoke to the press, saying the Beermen can pull from their historic comeback from a 0-3 finals series deficit in the previous Philippine Cup. 

“We just have to use that as a reference,” he said. “Yung mga experiences na ganoon (Those experiences) you could use in times like this.” 

The Beermen blew a 12-point lead in the second quarter before coming back from a 13-point deficit in the fourth to nearly steal the game from the Painters. 

Back-to-back triples from Cabagnot and a 3-point play from Wilkerson brought them to within 97-96 with 14.9 seconds to go. 

Paul Lee then split his free throws and left the door open for San Miguel’s taking, but Lassiter’s potential game-winning triple at the buzzer came a second late. 

San Miguel will try to stretch the series in Game 3 on Thursday, April 28, at the PhilSports Arena, the site where they began last conference’s memorable comeback. – Rappler.com