The Beermen are now a win away from a finals berth.
The San Miguel Beermen had PBA coaches and players scratching their heads trying to find ways to solve the “Death Five” riddle in the 2010s.
With June Mar Fajardo, Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot, Chris Ross, and Marcio Lassiter, the Beermen looked invisible and won multiple championships under then head coach Leo Austria. Hence the name.
That reign essentially ended when June Mar Fajardo went down with a shin injury, and Arwind Santos and Alex Cabagnot were shipped to NorthPort Batang Pier and Terrafirma Dyip, respectively.
But discussion about a new Death Five has emerged on various social media platforms with the arrival of import Bennie Boatwright for the Beermen in the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel coach Tim Cone said the lethal starting five had a revival of sorts with Boatwright filling in for Santos.
“They have their own version of Death 5, except Boatwright is playing Arwind Santos’ role,” Cone said after the Beermen survived Ginebra in the semifinals opener, 92-90.
Talks about that topic intensified after Boatwright fired 38 points in a 106-96 win that put SMB in a prime position to nab a Finals berth in Game 3 on Sunday.
San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent, though, has a different take on the topic.
“Everybody’s capable. There’s no Death Five here. It’s Death 15,” he told members of the media after Game 2 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“Everybody’s good here. They wouldn’t be here if they weren’t good.”
He was on point. On Friday, it was Jeron Teng who provided the spark off the bench for the Beermen. While he only had seven points, Teng’s efforts on defense proved instrumental in the win according to Gallent.
“We knew Jeron was a teammate of (Maverick) Ahanmisi. We made him play defense (on) him because he was getting open a lot. Jeron did a good job when he was called,” Gallent said of the former Phoenix Fuel Masters' main man.
The Beermen should hope everyone steps up anew as they go for the jugular against the Gin Kings on Sunday. Gallent and the rest of the team are under no illusion it’s going to be a breeze.
“Ginebra is a mighty team and is well-coached. We just have to come out in Game 3 and play as hard,” he said.
The third installment of the best-of-five semifinals series will air on Sunday, 6:30 p.m., on CNN Philippines, A2Z, PBA Rush, and the Pilipinas Live app.