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PBA: San Miguel pulls away in fourth for 2-1 finals lead against Magnolia

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/tvpatrol/04/01/pba.jpg"/><figcaption>The San Miguel Beermen are now up 2-1 in the best-of-seven finals series. Richard Esguerra, <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/basketball/photos">ABS-CBN Sports</a></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATED) A sizzling run to open the fourth quarter was all that San Miguel Beer needed to pull away from Magnolia and eventually take a 2-1 lead in the 2017-18 PBA Philippine Cup finals.The Beermen took control in the payoff period en route to a 111-87 victory in Game 3 of the best-of-seven series on Easter Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.The three-time defending All-Filipino champions unleashed a 17-3 run at the start of the final frame, which turned a 75-68 lead into a more comfortable 92-71 advantage with 6:18 left to play. More impressive than the run was how SMB did it: most of the grunt work was done by their reserves, as Brian Heruela, Gabby Espinas, and Matt Ganuelas-Rosser teamed up with Arwind Santos and Marcio Lassiter to shut down the Hotshots.Lassiter and Santos still did the bulk of the scoring, but their reserves had their shining moments as well. Ganuelas-Rosser scored off a nifty give-and-go play with Espinas, Heruela broke loose for a lay-up, and Espinas made the Magnolia defense pay with a baseline jumper.&quot;The key here is we&#x27;re able to match their energy,&quot; said San Miguel head coach Leo Austria. &quot;Lampas-lampas pa nga, and that is because of our second unit.&quot;&quot;The second unit, at the start of the fourth quarter, sila ang nag-trabaho. That&#x27;s why I opted to let them stay until the last few minutes,&quot; he added. &quot;I think, if they keep on stepping up every game, I&#x27;m confident na every game, puwede kami manalo.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/basketball/news/2018/03/31/pba-june-mar-says-beermen-long-series-39649">READ: June Mar says Beermen in for a long series</a></li></ul>Lassiter led San Miguel with 24 points, 10 of which came in the final quarter. June Mar Fajardo finished with 21 points and 17 rebounds, and sat out the entirety of the fourth frame. Chris Ross and Santos finished with 14 points, and Heruela had 11 markers.<div>Tight game</div>San Miguel outscored Magnolia, 36-19, in the final period to finally break the game open.Before their run at the start of the payoff period, it was a tight ball game as the Beermen struggled to pull away. They led by as much as 11 points, 66-55, in the third period, thanks to Fajardo&#x27;s inside presence, but the Hotshots were ready to rally every time.Magnolia managed to get to within three points, 64-67, off two charities by Rome dela Rosa. They were still within four points, 66-70, after two charities knocked down by Paul Lee, but Lassiter uncorked a deep three-pointer with 20.9 seconds to go in the third frame that gave the momentum back to San Miguel.The Beermen did not let go of that momentum, as they locked down on the Hotshots in the final period behind a smaller line-up that appeared to catch Magnolia off-guard.Making matters worse for Magnolia was that Lee appeared to hurt his right hand with nine minutes left to play. The high-scoring guard was eventually subbed out of the game with 8:28 left and did not return.San Miguel shot 50.5% from the field, and held Magnolia to only 37.3% shooting.&quot;We&#x27;re not yet done,&quot; warned Austria after the game. &quot;We need two more wins to get the championship.&quot;<div>Hotshots fired up</div>San Miguel had a slim 50-49 lead at the half, after the Hotshots fought back following a technical foul called on head coach Chito Victolero with 68 seconds to go in the opening quarter. Lassiter&#x27;s technical free throw gave SMB its biggest lead, 29-16, but the infraction seemed to fire up the Magnolia players.Aldrech Ramos drained perimeter jumpers to keep them within striking distance, before PJ Simon and Lee waxed hot midway through the second period and conspired to bring Magnolia all the way back. The two guards knocked down back-to-back three-pointers that tied the game at 43, forcing the Beermen to sue for time.SMB did just enough to stay on top, with Ganuelas-Rosser&#x27;s lay-up off an inbound pass pushing them ahead, 50-47. But the Hotshots ended the first half on a strong note, with Mark Barroca draining a baseline jumper to cut the deficit to one point entering the break.The Hotshots stayed within striking distance in the third period, but finally ran out of steam in the final frame against the SMB bench.Barroca led Magnolia with 22 points, while Lee fired 15 before leaving the contest in the fourth quarter. Simon had 10 points, all in the second period, as he was shut down the rest of the way by Ganuelas-Rosser.Game 4 of the best-of-seven series is on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.<div>The scores: </div>SAN MIGUEL 111 - Lassiter 24, Fajardo 21, Ross 14, Santos 14, Heruela 11, Espinas 9, Cabagnot 5, Rosser 5, Pessumal 4, Semerad 2, Vigil 2, Mamaril 0, Lanete 0. MAGNOLIA 87 - Barroca 22, Lee 15, Ramos 12, Simon 10, Sangalang 6, Dela Rosa 6, Jalalon 6, Gamalinda 6, Reavis 4, Pascual 0, Mendoza 0, Brondial 0, Herndon 0. Quarters: 29-22, 50-49, 75-68, 111-87<div>For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.</div>

(UPDATED) Defending champion San Miguel Beer pulled away in the fourth quarter to take down Magnolia, 111-87, in Game 3 of the 2017-18 PBA Philippine Cup Finals on Easter Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

(UPDATED) Defending champion San Miguel Beer pulled away in the fourth quarter to take down Magnolia, 111-87, in Game 3 of the 2017-18 PBA Philippine Cup Finals on Easter Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

PBA: San Miguel pulls away in fourth for 2-1 finals lead against Magnolia

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PBA: San Miguel pulls away in fourth for 2-1 finals lead against Magnolia

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 01, 2018 09:05 PM PHT

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Updated April 01, 2018 09:44 PM PHT

Read More:

PBA

PBA Philippine Cup

Magnolia Hotshots

San Miguel Beermen

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