SMB slams door on Phoenix, 4 to 1

Game Today

(Ynares Center, Antipolo City) 7 p.m. — Magnolia vs Rain or Shine (Magnolia leads series 3-2)

Defending champion San Miguel Beer survived Phoenix Pulse’s last-ditch comeback to pull out a 105-94 victory and secure a place in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals for a fifth straight time at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The Beermen were given a scare when the Fuel Masters got to within four points twice after trailing by a high of 25 in the third before Terrence Romeo hit a crucial jumper with 1:08 left for a 100-94 lead.

Phoenix never scored from there

and San Miguel secured a 4-1 series win to return to a familiar territory of playing in the PBA’s grandest stage.

San Miguel, which secured its ninth finals appearance under coach Leo Austria, will face either Magnolia or Rain or Shine in a best-of-seven affair which starts on May 1.

Magnolia, up 3-2 in the other bestof-seven semis, looks to finish off Rain or Shine in Game 6 set 7 p.m. at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City and set up a Philippine Cup Finals rematch with San Miguel.

Chris Ross and Alex Cabagnot accounted for 10 of the Beermen’s 14 three-pointers to set the tone for the Beermen’s series-clinching triumph.

Ross scored 24 points for his best offensive outing of the series while Cabagnot added 22 points.

San Miguel won a series marred by physicality and verbal exchanges that resulted in total fines of at least R111,000.

The final game of the series saw little of the extra-curricular activities as both teams focused on playing ball.

SMB led by 25 twice in the third but Phoenix rose from slumber with LA Revilla, who scored 15 points, leading the fightback to pull within 98-94 on Matthew Wright’s jumper.

But Romeo made sure he would secure his first-ever trip to the finals as a pro, draining a jumper off Revilla to virtually seal the deal for the Beermen.

Wright finished with 22 points but Phoenix’s incredible run in the tournament ended in disappointment.