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| June Mar Fajardo finally got out of a scoring slump to lead San Miguel to a 3-2 semis lead. PBA Images |
MANILA--San Miguel moved to within one win from a rematch with TNT in the PBA Philippine Cup finals after edging Ginebra, 115-109, in Game 5 of their semifinal duel on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The Beermen escaped yet another fightback from the Gin Kings to take an all-important 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven series.
Down by 17, 90-107, with 6:27 left, Ginebra showed its patented never-say-die mantra later in the fourth quarter, going on a 19-4 run that cut the deficit to two, 109-111, with 13.4 seconds left.
The team had a golden opportunity to at least force overtime when CJ Perez, normally a decent free-throw shooter, missed two charities off a Jayson David foul with 12.2 seconds remaining.
However, Japeth Aguilar failed to secure the rebound, and Chris Ross saved the ball to June Mar Fajardo, who, despite the lingering shoulder pain, hit two free throws with 8.3 seconds to go.
With no other choice but to take the four, Stephen Holt passed the ball to Abarrientos, but the latter fumbled the ball, and Marcio Lassiter collared the game-saving steal.
Lassiter iced the game with two free throws with 1.1 seconds to go.
Held to a combined 13 points in Games 3 and 4, Fajardo played his best game since Game 2 as he led SMB with 21 markers on 8-of-11 field goals, 11 rebounds, two assists, and one block.
Perez added 20 points, two rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
Thompson led Ginebra with 20 points on 6-of-7 shooting, seven rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and one block.
The Beermen can close out the series on Friday night back at "The Big Dome".
.jpg&description=SMB survives Ginebra's late scare to go 3-2 up in PBA PH Cup semis){kind=link}