The San Miguel Beermen were in tune with the Manila weather on Friday, making it rain from 3-point land as they clobbered TNT Tropang Giga, 114-96, to force Game 7 for the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup crown.
On a rainy Friday night, the Beemen were hot from the opening tip as they dropped 40 points in the first quarter to take a 16-point lead.
They went up by as many as 26 points in the second period, and although the Tropang Giga cut the lead to nine in the third, the Beermen closed the quarter with a 25-10 run to break the game wide open.
Simon Enciso and Marcio Lassiter both had six triples, as the Beermen shot a scorching 45% on three-pointers (16 of 35).
Game 7 is set for Sunday, which will be the finals decider since the 2019 Philippine Cup -- when the Beermen last won this tournament and 26th in league history.
San Miguel's hot hand
San Miguel's 3-point shooting percentage could have been higher if reserves Paul Zamar and Von Pessumal hadn't chucked their combined three attempts in the last minutes of the game. Take out those misses and the Beermen would have shot 50%.
Enciso and Lassiter became the first teammates to have at least six triples each in a Finals game since Chris Ross and Terrence Romeo in Game 2 of the 2019 Commissioner's Cup Finals.
Enciso shot 6-of-11 while Lassiter was even deadlier at 6-of-7 as both finally broke out of their Finals shooting slumps; from Games 1 to 5 Enciso was shooting just 20.8% (5-of-24) while Lassiter was hitting just 25.9% (7-of-27).
Lassiter said he knew his shots were eventually going to fall.
"I looked at the shots I was taking the last game and they were great looks. I knew the law of averages was gonna pan out. Just continue to play my way, keep shooting the shots that I'm gonna take and know that eventually they're gonna fall and tonight was the night."
It will be a hectic weekend for Lassiter as his wife is scheduled to give birth on Saturday.
"I'm just gonna take in the moment. It's gonna be a very special day. And I just have to also know that come game time I just have to be prepared. It's a good thing I'm in another Game 7. Just being thankful and praying for a special delivery. Everything will be good. That's taking care of Saturday and Sunday is a new day and all my focus will be on Game 7."
San Miguel coach Leo Austria was especially pleased that his team de-emphasized its offensive focus from June Mar Fajardo, who took just four shots and barely kept his double-double Finals streaking going with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
"That's what I need from everybody. Marcio was shooting well, also Enciso. No need for June Mar. Everybody contributed. But we have to learn from this game. We were leading by 26 points then all of a sudden it became 13 points and then nine points.
"I think you heard during the pre-game interview, we will not concentrate on just one player in June Mar. I want everybody to be involved especially our shooters. And that's what happened tonight."
TNT fail to detonate
It was TNT's worst Finals loss since a 115-91 drubbing at the hands of the Beermen in the title-clinching Game 6 of the 2017 Commissioner's Cup. It was also the worst Finals loss for TNT under Chot Reyes since a 105-83 defeat to Petron in Game 4 of the 2011 Governors' Cup Finals.
For Mikey Williams, his two-point output was the lowest of his PBA career as he suffered one of his worst shooting nights (1-of-13).
RR Pogoy had 31 points, but he couldn't get enough support from the rest of the crew. Kelly Williams had only eight, just two nights after he was celebrated for a 21-point output. Troy Rosario and Poy Errams had only 10 and seven points, respectively. If JD Tungcab, who was making his first Finals appearance, hadn't put up 12 points in nine minutes of garbage time, TNT's deficit would have been bigger.
Will the Tropang Giga be healthy on Sunday?
The big question for TNT will be the health of two key players on Sunday. Jayson Castro, would limped off the floor in Game 5 with a badly sprained ankle, was in uniform for Game 6 but wasn't fielded in. Glenn Khobuntin also sat out with his own leg injury.
"For me, they did not take a gamble using those injured players," Austria said. "Because they know if there's a Game 7, those injured players are trying to recuperate, trying to fast-track the healing process. I'm expecting next game they will be complete. But whether they'll be complete or not, TNT is a tough team to beat."
Castro said he donned his jersey to show support the team, even if he wasn't cleared to play.
"I really couldn't go. I was just there to support my teammates. If I'm in uniform at least I'm involved in the game."
He said things will be different on Sunday.
"It's Game 7. We have to go all-out and want to win."