San Miguel gained a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup semifinal series against Rain or Shine.
History appears to be on San Miguel’s side.
This as the Beermen inched closer to a finals appearance with a 117-107 conquest of Rain or Shine in Game Three of their race-to-four semifinal tussle in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup series on Wednesday, May 22.
According to the league's chief statistician Fidel Mangonon, 16 of the last 17 teams that had a 3-0 advantage in a best-of-seven battle went on to win it. Eight of them even swept the series.
The only squad that came back from that seemingly insurmountable hole, incidentally, was San Miguel, in what was now dubbed as the “Beeracle.”
[WATCH: PBA Game Highlights: San Miguel holds off Rain or Shine, moves on verge of finals]
In the said series, the Beermen, behind the relentless efforts of eventual Finals Most Valuable Player Chris Ross, clawed back from a 0-3 deficit to capture the 2015-2016 Philippine Cup title.
Thus, San Miguel should avoid falling to complacency, according to Wednesday's Player of the Game Don Trollano.
“Siguro, 'wag lang kaming maging complacent. Hindi pa rin naman tapos 'yung series,” said Trollano after the Beermen's Game Three win at the Dasmarinas City Arena.
“Unahan 'to sa apat na panalo. We just got to be focused sa game. 'Wag lang talagang maging complacent kahit na lamang ng 3-0.”
[ALSO READ: PBA: Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao explains endgame verbal spat with San Miguel’s Terrence Romeo in Game 3]
San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent agreed, saying that the Beermen needs to stay the course as they try to finish off pesky Rain or Shine in Game Four at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay on Friday, May 24.
“We just have to stay motivated sa Game Four. We really have to bring the energy. We really have to step on the gas, especially doon sa Game Four,” said Gallent.
[ALSO READ: PBA: San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent shrugs off June Mar Fajardo’s offensive struggle in Game 3 win]
“I’m sure Rain or Shine will come out smoking in Game Four. We just have to match that and do the things that we’ve been doing, and I think we’re going to be okay," he added.
Match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. following the 4:30 p.m. joust between Ginebra and Meralco in the other semifinal series.