Resurrected SMB is favorite again

TThis early, SMB, having risen ahead of the Easter Sunday resurrection of the Lord, reclaims its old billing as heavy favorite.

his time, San Miguel Beer proved its championship worthiness. This time, San Miguel Beer didn’t panic.

And, this time, Arwind Santos was ready to redeem himself.

Up by 21 points, San Miguel saw that lead nibbled down to just seven points.

Time left was still seven or so minutes. Magnolia’s insurrection percolates so precariously.

But will lightning strike twice? In Game One on Friday night, Magnolia rallied from 20 points to defeat San Miguel 105-103 in the PBA Philippine Cup at Cubao’s Smart Araneta Coliseum.

This Sunday night in Pasay’s MOA Arena, history getting repeated had seemed imminent.

Only Sec. Bong Go, watching from ringside, had second thoughts.

Anyways, Magnolia xeroxed its fourth quarter uprising in Game One, exploding an 11-0 blast opening Game Two’s final canto.

With San Miguel silenced in the frame’s first five minutes, the super-hot Hotshots moved to within seven points.

But then, Arwind, itching for redemption, banged home a three some four paces or so from the centerline to more than quell Magnolia’s brewing revolt yet again.

Arwind’s shot from a kick out pass by June Mar Fajardo sparked a 10-0 counter blast, promptly restoring order as SMB returned to a 17-point lead that was never threatened again.

Fajardo, Chris Ross and Marcio Lassiter were Arwind’s accessories in the upheaval.

Wasn’t it only two nights ago that Arwind’s overtime-sending attempt got blocked by Rafi Reavies at the buzzer in Game One? “Now, it’s down to a best-of-five series,” said Santos, who fired a game-high 24 points, 18 of which came from six threes out of SMB’s 13 triples to lead the Beermen to a 1-1 deadlock.

Although the 6-foot-10 Fajardo scored only 12 points compared to his 31 in Game One, he still got much credit for his team’s win as the crippling double-team on him allowed him to repeatedly flick passes to three-point shooters left open in rainbow country. He had 13 rebounds.

Ian Sangalang’s 11 was also a far cry from his 29 Game One points, the big dip casting doubts on the 6-foot-7’s ability to sustain his consistency in a best-of-seven series. Game Three is on April 1.

This early, SMB, having risen ahead of the Easter Sunday resurrection of the Lord, reclaims its old billing as heavy favorite.