Muhammad puts SMB back in business
is amazing enough to watch Philadelphia erase a 21-point deficit to win an NBA game on Sunday morni n g.
Then, in the evening, it was San Miguel Beer practically replicating Philadelphia’s feat.
The Beermern rallied from 26 points down to score a pulsating 115-110 win over the Meralco Bolts.
It’s been a double treat, indeed, to complete my socalled Sweet Sunday Show.
Tyrese Maxey, just 21 years old, starred in the Philadelphia thriller to more than complement the equally sterling performances of his teammates Joel Embiid and James Harden. Tyrese fired a game-high 33 points, completing a 20-plus game five times in a row.
Embiid is presently a strong contender for this season’s MVP award. Harden, freshly recruited from the slumping Brooklyn Nets, was an MVP just a while back.
“He’s making things happen for us,” said Embiid of Harden, whose departure from Brooklyn orphaned Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Chris Ross forced import Tony Bishop, the Meralco machine, to fumble scoring feeds to preserve Shabazz Muhammad’s heroics in San Miguel’s colossal win for a good-for-the-next-round 7-4 record.
Ross had this prideful reminder to his teammates before the game against Meralco: “You’re wearing a San Miguel jersey and it’s one of the most prestigious teams in PBA history.”
“The guys responded,” Ross said.
And what a response Ross got from Muhammad, who fired 57 points, 46 of which came in the explosive final half that saw the Beermen burn a 46-70 halftime deficit.
“In the third quarter, Muhammad was like, ‘We’re gonna win this game,’… he kept telling us,” Ross told Inquirer's Denison Dalupang. “I got your back bro, we’ll follow your lead.”
Not only was Muhammad ripping the nets at will in the last two frames, he was also crushing the boards as well to finish with 19 rebounds.
His efforts rubbed on June Mar Fajardo and Vic Manuel.
Fajardo had 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Manuel 13 points.
“You know, once my jumper gets in, it’s pretty tough to stop me,” said Muhammad, who was Meralco’s original choice of import but the deal went sour at the last minute.
“It’s crazy.
Meralco’s a good sport… .I’m now looking forward to the playoffs.”
“I think he’s in a groove now,” said Ross of Muhammad, who is SMB’s third import in the ongoing PBA Governors Cup.
Definitely, Muhammad has put the Beermen back in business.
IT