By REYNALD MAGALLON
After a quiet Game 1 for Don Trollano, Ginebra head coach Tim Cone expected a big bounce back game for the San Miguel super sub. He put up decent numbers in Game 2 but Cone’s word proved to be more prophetic for Game 3.
The veteran forward erupted for 33 points as San Miguel held off Barangay Ginebra, 91-85, to take the driver seat in their PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals series in Game 3 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday, Jan. 9.
Trollano spearheaded a scorching 21-2 assault in the third frame and then delivered the dagger layup plus a foul in the end game to foil a last ditch Kings comeback and take a 2-1 series lead.
With June Mar Fajardo struggling with a shoulder injury and against the swarming defense of Ginebra, Trollano stepped up and fired 15 of his total output during the searing third quarter rally.
He added six rebounds, three assists and two steals to his stellar statline while CJ Perez amply supported him also scoring nine in that rally to finish with 19 points.
After a historic third straight 20-20 game, Fajardo was held down to just six points – all of which he only scored in the final frame – though he more than made up for it with 19 rebounds.
Mo Tautuaa was the other double-digit scorer for the Beermen with 13.
SMB was actually staring at a one-point deficit, 49-50, early in the third before Trollano nailed back-to-back triples that opened the floodgates to the massive run. When the dust settled, the Beermen already erected a comfortable 70-52 lead.
Ginebra, however, slowly but surely climbed back into the contest and even threatened the defending champion when it cut the lead down to just four, 83-87 with 3:05 left.
But the Trollano and-1 play, along with two defensive gems from Chris Ross inside the last two minutes, ultimately slammed the door on Ginebra comeback.
Scottie Thompson paced Ginebra with 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals while RJ Abarrientos chipped in 14.
