By Ricky Manliguis
Follow him on Twitter: @Teaching_Hero
MANILA--If there’s one thing that San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria should
be happy about in their Game 3 conquest of sister team Magnolia Hotshots, it
was their ever reliable “shock troopers”.
“Alam nila kung ano ang role nila, and we keep on telling the second unit to step up kasi given na yung first group namin eh. The good thing is nag-step sila,” The six-time PBA champion mentor said.
The SMB bench, led by Brian Heruela, Gabby Espinas, and Matt
Ganuelas-Rosser provided the energy off the bench, even conniving with a
red-hot Marcio Lassiter in the 15-0 fourth quarter salvo that proved too much
for the Pambansang Manok to handle.
This enabled Austria to rest starters June Mar Fajardo, Alex
Cabagnot, and Chris Ross in the entire fourth quarter.
Heruela, the playmaker from Cebu, finished with 11 points in
22 minutes of action, while Espinas chipped in nine markers and Ganuelas-Rosser six boards and five points.
SMB will be aiming into Game 4 on Wednesday a commanding 3-1 lead.
Follow him on Twitter: @Teaching_Hero