HIGHLIGHTS: San Miguel vs Magnolia - PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals Game 5

Jericho Cruz took over as San Miguel held off Magnolia,108-98, to move within a win of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup championship on Sunday, February 11, at the Araneta Coliseum.

Cruz unleashed a playoff career-high 30 points built on 8 three-pointers as the Beermen took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven title series.

Bennie Boatwright added 21 points and June Mar Fajardo also scored 18 for the Beermen, who pulled through late in Game 5 even as the Hotshots threatened by just a possession in the final minute.

Fourth quarter

FINAL: Jericho Cruz erupts for 30 points as San Miguel takes a crucial 3-2 lead with a 108-98 win over Magnolia
SAN MIGUEL 108-98: CJ Perez and Chris Ross with back-to-back steals and layups to seal the deal
SAN MIGUEL 104-98: Bennie Boatwright with two crucial free throws. 32.5 seconds to play
SAN MIGUEL 102-98: Tyler Bey 2/2 from the line. 48.9 seconds left
SAN MIGUEL 102-96: Jericho Cruz knocks down his eighth three-pointer of the game. Timeout Magnolia with 53 seconds remaining
SAN MIGUEL 99-96: Tyler Bey makes it a three-point game after swishing two free throws
SAN MIGUEL 99-94: Ian Sangalang and Tyler Bey with a quick 4-0 run. Timeout Beermen with 1:30 left
SAN MIGUEL 99-90: June Mar Fajardo absorbs the contact and finishes. He misses the bonus free throw with 3:29 to play
SAN MIGUEL 97-90: Ian Sangalang with a much-needed three-point play for Magnolia
SAN MIGUEL 97-87: Jio Jalalon scores inside, Jericho Cruz responds with a trey
SAN MIGUEL 94-85: Tyler Bey hits another three, Bennie Boatwright counters with an and-one
SAN MIGUEL 91-82: Jio Jalalon lays it in on the break
SAN MIGUEL 91-80: Tyler Bey connects from long range
SAN MIGUEL 91-77: Paul Lee banks one in, but Simon Enciso responds with another three-pointer for the Beermen
SAN MIGUEL 88-75: Jericho Cruz makes the defense pay with a wide-open triple
SAN MIGUEL 85-75: Jericho Cruz stops their drought with a cold-blooded three
SAN MIGUEL 82-75: Paul Lee drops it off to Ian Sangalang for the easy deuce
SAN MIGUEL 82-73: Aris Dionisio cuts the deficit to single digits with a corner trey
SAN MIGUEL 82-70: Ian Sangalang scores underneath off the timeout
SAN MIGUEL 82-68: 6-0 run by the Beermen as Bennie Boatwright completes a three-point play
SAN MIGUEL 79-68: Don Trollano pulls up for a transition triple

Third quarter

END OF 3Q: San Miguel still in control over Magnolia with a 76-68 lead
SAN MIGUEL 76-68: Jericho Cruz and Jio Jalalon trade tough floaters to finish the quarter
SAN MIGUEL 74-66: Bennie Boatwright hits two foul shots
SAN MIGUEL 72-66: Tyler Bey fires his third triple
SAN MIGUEL 72-63: Mo Tautuaa floats it in off a dish by Jericho Cruz
SAN MIGUEL 70-63: James Laput makes two foul shots
SAN MIGUEL 70-61: June Mar Fajardo drills his ninth and tenth free throws of the game
SAN MIGUEL 68-61: Jericho Cruz and Bennie Boatwright combine for 5 straight points
SAN MIGUEL 63-61: Paul Lee breaks down the defense and scores off a spin
SAN MIGUEL 63-59: June Mar Fajardo finally goes perfect from the stripe
SAN MIGUEL 61-59: Rome dela Rosa splits from the line this time
SAN MIGUEL 61-58: Jericho Cruz uncorks a wide-open long bomb
58-58: Rome dela Rosa ties the game again with two charities
SAN MIGUEL 58-56: Bennie Boatwright immediately counters with his own deuce
56-56: Ian Sangalang ties it up with an easy layup
SAN MIGUEL 56-54: Tyler Bey pulls Magnolia within one possession with two free throws
SAN MIGUEL 56-52: Ian Sangalang forces his way inside and converts
SAN MIGUEL 56-50: Calvin Abueva walks into a three-pointer
SAN MIGUEL 56-47: Tyler Bey and June Mar Fajardo exchange easy layups
SAN MIGUEL 54-45: CJ Perez forces a Magnolia timeout after another tough finish
SAN MIGUEL 52-45: CJ Perez converts down low
SAN MIGUEL 50-45: Calvin Abueva spins and scores, plus the foul
SAN MIGUEL 50-43: June Mar Fajardo putback is good
SAN MIGUEL 48-43: Jio Jalalon starts the second half with a jumper

First-half performers

Simon Enciso (SAN MIGUEL) – 12 points, 4/5 3FG
Jericho Cruz (SAN MIGUEL) – 11 points, 3/5 3FG
June Mar Fajardo (SAN MIGUEL) – 8 points, 7 rebounds
Tyler Bey (MAGNOLIA) – 15 points
Jio Jalalon (MAGNOLIA) – 9 points
Paul Lee (MAGNOLIA) – 8 points

Second quarter

HALFTIME: Simon Enciso sinks a last-second trey as San Miguel keeps a 48-41 edge over Magnolia
SAN MIGUEL 45-41: Jio Jalalon nails two free throws
SAN MIGUEL 45-39: June Mar Fajardo 1/2 from the stripe
SAN MIGUEL 44-39: June Mar Fajardo and Paul Lee trade putback layups
SAN MIGUEL 42-37: June Mar Fajardo splits again from the line
SAN MIGUEL 41-37: Paul Lee gets open for a three-pointer
SAN MIGUEL 41-34: Marcio Lassiter undergoal stab is good, Tyler Bey skies for a two-handed putback slam
SAN MIGUEL 39-32: Simon Enciso lets it fly from downtown
SAN MIGUEL 36-32: Ian Sangalang answers with his own pair of free throws
SAN MIGUEL 36-30: June Mar Fajardo goes perfect from the foul line
SAN MIGUEL 34-30: Paul Lee completes an and-one
SAN MIGUEL 34-27: Don Trollano lays it in
SAN MIGUEL 32-27: Back-to-back buckets by Tyler Bey
SAN MIGUEL 32-25: Calvin Abueva feeds Tyler Bey for a layup on the break
SAN MIGUEL 32-23: Don Trollano cans two foul shots
SAN MIGUEL 30-23: Tyler Bey buries a three-pointer
SAN MIGUEL 30-20: Bennie Boatwright cleans his own miss
SAN MIGUEL 28-20: Mark Barroca finishes inside
SAN MIGUEL 28-18: Jericho Cruz still on fire as he knocks down his third triple of the game

First quarter

END OF 1Q: San Miguel sets the tone with a 25-18 lead over Magnolia
SAN MIGUEL 25-18: Jio Jalalon sinks two freebies
SAN MIGUEL 25-16: Jericho Cruz hits again, this time from beyond the arc
SAN MIGUEL 22-16: Jericho Cruz drains a long two
SAN MIGUEL 20-16: Aris Dionisio and Don Trollano exchange long bombs
SAN MIGUEL 17-13: Bennie Boatwright gets two free throws to go
SAN MIGUEL 15-13: Tyler Bey lights it up from long distance
SAN MIGUEL 15-10: Jericho Cruz enters the game and quickly swishes a triple
SAN MIGUEL 12-10: Mark Barroca hits a wide-open teardrop
SAN MIGUEL 12-8: June Mar Fajardo goes 1/2 from the line
SAN MIGUEL 11-8: Tyler Bey side steps and scores
SAN MIGUEL 11-6: Bennie Boatwright scores inside
SAN MIGUEL 9-6: Jio Jalalon stops and pops from mid-range
SAN MIGUEL 9-4: Tyler Bey splits his charities
SAN MIGUEL 9-3: Back-to-back threes by surprise starter Simon Enciso
3-3: Jio Jalalon puts Magnolia on the board with a three
SAN MIGUEL 3-0: CJ Perez with an easy layup
SAN MIGUEL 1-0: June Mar Fajardo opens the scoring with a free throw

Starting lineups

SAN MIGUEL: Simon Enciso, CJ Perez, Marcio Lassiter, Bennie Boatwright, June Mar Fajardo
MAGNOLIA: Jio Jalalon, Mark Barroca, Rome Dela Rosa, Tyler Bey, Ian Sangalang

Preview

Has Magnolia decoded San Miguel?

That question will be answered as the Hotshots shoot for a third straight win and a 3-2 lead in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals when they tangle with the Beermen in Game 5 at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, February 11.

Beaten by 32 points combined in the first two games of the best-of-seven affair, Magnolia has flipped the script, tying the series at 2-2 after limiting San Miguel to under 90 points in each of their last two encounters.

Game 3 and Game 4 marked the only times the Beermen got contained to under 90 points after averaging 106.8 points in their previous 17 games – a run capped by 11 straight wins.

The way the Hotshots turned the series around has given head coach Chito Victolero something to be proud of, but he is far from satisfied.

“We just tied the series. Nothing to celebrate. Just need to prepare hard for the next game,” said Victolero.

“I like the effort. I like the aura of my team. We’re doing well right now, offensively and defensively. We’re still the underdogs for this series.”

Magnolia aims to share the wealth anew after five players scored in double figures in Game 4, with Tyler Bey dropping 26 points to show the way for locals Mark Barroca (14), Paul Lee (14), Ian Sangalang (13), and Jio Jalalon (10).

San Miguel, meanwhile, hopes that high-scoring import Bennie Boatwright will rediscover his touch after being held to a conference-low 16 points in Game 4.

Game time is 6:15 pm. – Rappler.com