The San Miguel Beermen barged their way into the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals after crushing the Star Hotshots’ hopes in a 109-102 victory in Game 4 on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Alex Cabagnot led a balanced SMB scoring attack that saw four Beermen scoring at least 20 points.
Cabagnot scored 26 points while Chris Ross had another huge game with 24 points, 10 rebounds and five steals.
June Mar Fajardo scored 22 points, shooting 7-for-9 from the field and 8-for-9 from the free throw line. He also grabbed eight rebounds. Import Charles Rhodes went for 21 points and 10 rebounds.
Star’s Ricardo Ratliffe posted 36 points and 17 rebounds in the loss.
With the win, San Miguel clinched the semis series, 3-1. They are awaiting the winner of the TNT-Ginebra series, which the KaTropa currently lead 2-1.
The Beermen took control of the game in the third period, where they outscored the Hotshots, 31-20. Cabagnot exploded for 12 points and Ross knocked down three consecutive three-pointers as they finished the quarter ahead, 83-69.
Fajardo then opened the fourth with a three-point play that made it a 17-point lead, 86-69.
But Star didn’t seem ready for their conference to end as they battled back behind some big shots from Mark Barroca and a couple of three-pointers from Aldrech Ramos and Paul Lee.
Lee’s triple at the 1:28 mark cut SMB’s lead down to just three points, 101-98.
SMB, though, took care of its free throws in the endgame to seal the win.
