PBA: Gallent confident San Miguel's 'Death 15' can finish job vs. Ginebra

With a 2-0 series lead in their bag, San Miguel head coach Jorge Gallent beamed with confidence about the Beermen's chances of finishing off defending champion Barangay Ginebra come Game 3 on Sunday.

After all, his squad boasts a 'Death 15' — an improved version of the 'Death Five' that formed a formidable quintet behind June Mar Fajardo, Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot, Marcio Lassiter, and Chris Ross in the past years.

"Our players are really composed and they know how to win, they know how to do things, especially in the endgame," Gallent said on Friday.

"So players are good, hats off to them. They know how to win, this Death 15, not Death Five."

San Miguel's past two games against the Gin Kings can back up Gallent's claim.

Back in the series opener last Wednesday, San Miguel barely held on in pulling off a tight 92-90 win as they took advantage of late lapses made by the defending champions.

CJ Perez led the way with 26 points while import Bennie Boatwright churned out a double-double of 23 markers and 12 rebounds alongside five assists, two blocks, and a steal.

Boatwright in Game 2 then exploded with 38 markers on top of nine boards and two dimes to make up for his 43 percent shooting from the field last game as San Miguel took a 106-96 win and a commanding series lead.

"Bennie is a great player. Bennie can adjust because I think that was the first time he played the Gins so now, this is his second game so adjusted well and he did good," Gallent added.

However, it wasn't just Boatwright who is doing wonders for Gallent as locals have also stepped up big time to carry the fight for the Beermen.

Perez and June Mar Fajardo had 17 points each with the reigning seven-time MVP also collecting 14 rebounds and a career-high six blocks while Marcio Lassiter detonated in the second half to finish with 16 markers, three boards, and two steals.

Jeron Teng was also effective despite playing limited minutes, tallying seven markers and two assists off the bench.

"Jeron was a teammate of [Maverick] Ahanmisi so we made him play defense to him because was kind of getting open a lot but he was just missing a lot. So Jeron did a really good job," Gallent said.

Even with a 2-0 lead, Gallent said they will be wary come Game 3, especially with the Gin Kings all pumped up to avoid absorbing a sweep loss.

"Ginebra’s a good team, Ginebra’s a well-coached team so we just can’t relax and say that we were swept last conference and that we would do the same," the tactician said.

"We just have to work as hard as how we played in Game 1 and 2 because Ginebra is a mighty team so we just have to come out in Game 3 and play as hard."

—JKC, GMA Integrated News