SAN Miguel booked a trip to the finals, ousting Barangay Ginebra via sweep, 94-91, in the PBA 48th Season Commissioner's Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday.
Bennie Boatwright put on another stellar performance in Game Three particularly in the third quarter to put the now-dethroned champions away in a rare sweep witnessed by 15,126 fans at the venue, the largest crowd this conference.
San Miguel will now face either Magnolia Chicken Timplados or Phoenix Super LPG in a best-of-seven finals where they will chase another title they last won during last season’s Philippine Cup.
SMB achieved a form of payback by avenging its loss to Ginebra in the previous season's Governors' Cup, where it suffered a sweep.
It marked the first time Ginebra lost the series via sweep since bowing to Rain or Shine in the 2015-16 Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals.
The previous time Ginebra was eliminated in a best-of-five series was during the 2012-13 Commissioner's Cup finals against Alaska.
Boatwright had 26 points and 13 rebounds for the Beermen. He had two threes in an 8-0 run that put San Miguel ahead for good, 64-61.
Jericho Cruz added 17 points and nailed a key jumper in the 5:30-mark of the game that was followed by a CJ Perez three on their way to a 90-79 lead, the biggest of the game.
“It’s just composure,” said San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent, who reached the finals for the first time in his current capacity. “The players were very composed especially in the end game. Game One, Two, it was anybody’s ballgame but we came out with the victory there also because of our composure.”
Marcio Lassiter collected 14 points, while June Mar Fajardo had 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Beermen, who will now vie for their 29th crown.
Tony Bishop had 25 points and eight rebounds, while Scottie Thompson had 17 points, nine rebounds, and five assists for Ginebra.
The scores:
San Miguel 94 – Boatwright 26, Cruz 17, Lassiter 14, Fajardo 11, Perez 11, Trollano 6, Teng 6, Ross 3, Trollano 0, Brondial 0.
Barangay Ginebra 91 – Bishop 25, Thompson 17, Aguilar 12, Malonzo 10, Standhardinger 10, Tenorio 8, Pringle 5, Ahanmisi 2, Pinto 2.
Quarters: 21-18; 43-42; 75-69; 94-91.
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