By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE defending champions San Miguel Beermen are now one win away from going back to the finals of the PBA Philippine Cup after defeating the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, 102-81, in Game Four of their best-of-seven semifinal series on Thursday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Using a strong kick to start the contest, San Miguel stayed ahead of Barangay Ginebra the rest of the way to book its third win in four matches in their Philippine Basketball Association semifinal encounter, needing just one more victory to book their place in the finals.

The Beermen were scorching hot in the opening half of the contest, bannered by a solid 64% shooting clip from the floor, and led by June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, Alex Cabagnot and Chris Ross.

They took the first quarter, 32-22, and continued to lord it over the Kings in the second, establishing a 58-41 advantage by the halftime break.

In the third quarter, Japeth Aguilar and LA Tenorio tried to tow the Kings back into the game but San Miguel would not relent on its thorough attack to leave Barangay Ginebra’s dent to a bare minimum.

The Beermen stretched their lead to 29 points, 84-55, with 1:49 to go before settling for a 26-point cushion, 84-58, heading into the final frame.

Barangay Ginebra came out aggressive to start the payoff quarter, going on a 7-0 run in the first two minutes to cut their deficit to just 19 points, 84-65.

San Miguel though would stay the course and kept pushing back after with Messrs. Lassiter and Cabagnot making fire-diffusing baskets one after another.

The Beermen had a 21-point lead, 95-74, with 4:54 to go in the game and just coasted to the win thereafter.

Mr. Lassiter led a balanced San Miguel attack with 23 points and six assists with Mr. Cabagnot adding 19 points and eight dimes.

Arwind Santos had 16 points and nine rebounds while Mr. Fajardo finished with 14 points and 13 boards.

Matt Ganuelas-Rosser and Mr. Ross were the two other Beermen in double-digits with 12 and 11 points, respectively.

As a group the Beermen shot 51% from the floor throughout the contest.

Mr. Aguilar, meanwhile, paced Barangay Ginebra with a double-double of 31 points and 13 rebounds with Mr. Tenorio adding 20 points.

“Our energy was a big factor for us in this game as with that we were able to negate what they (Kings) wanted to accomplish. And we were able to run our game plan especially our zone defense that surprised them,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria after their win.

The Beermen, who are gunning for their fourth straight PBA Philippine Cup titile, try to close out the series in Game Five on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

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