Did TNT spoil SMB’s party last night?

McCullough, SMB’s “Mr. Saviour” many times over, buried both free throws before Chris Ross added two more charities for SMB’s final 99-94 count

Did San Miguel Beer win last night? Or did TNT KaTropa spoil the Beermen party?

If there’s one thing certain that’s as certain as the moon and the stars, it is only the tyranny of deadline.

I would have loved writing about last night’s game for today’s issue.

But that’s simply not possible.

Like commercial planes not bound to wait for late passengers, deadlines also wait for no one.

This was done hours before last night’s Game Six. Printers are on when it’s a go. A bird flies when freed.

If it’s time, it’s time.

Pass your papers. Anyway, I can’t see even one single reason why SMB could not win it last night to clinch the PBA

Commissioner’s Cup.

That is, if we believe San Miguel’s Game 5 victory the other day was no joke. Not a fluke.

To do it, the Beermen used their ever-dependable experience culled from their 42 previous Finals appearances.

Precariously behind 87-93 with under four minutes left on Wednesday, the Beermen dropped a crushing 12-1 finish punctuated by a flawless freethrow shooting to enter last night’s game toting a crucial 3-2 lead.

TNT’s lone pitiful point in the last 4:06 of Game Five was through Terrence Jones, the KaTropa import whose 35 points and 22 rebounds became efforts in vain in the wake of Chris McCullough’s own brilliance.

Jones’ charity actually still gave TNT a decent 94-91 margin, time down to 2:21.2.

But after McCullough had charitied twice off Jayson Castro, Jones fumbled a counterattack with 33.2 seconds left that paved the way for a spectacular slash of the paint by McCullough that gave SMB back the lead, 95-94, rocking Araneta Coliseum to its foundations.

With 13.3 seconds left, Jones, thoroughly checked by Christian Standhardinger, completely missed TNT’s go-ahead left-handed lay-up, McCullough grabbing the board before getting fouled.

McCullough, SMB’s “Mr. Saviour” many times over, buried both free throws before Chris Ross added two more charities for SMB’s final 99-94 count.

Now, are we having a Game Seven on Sunday?

Last night, McCullough held the key to that. Again.