Who Won the PBA San Miguel vs NLEX 2019 Game? Final Score and Highlights

2025-11-04 19:15

I still remember sitting in front of the television that Sunday evening, feeling the palpable tension as the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals between San Miguel Beermen and NLEX Road Warriors reached its climax. As someone who's followed Philippine basketball for over a decade, I've witnessed numerous playoff battles, but this particular series had something special brewing. The stakes couldn't have been higher - a trip to the finals awaited the winner, and both teams had fought tooth and nail through the first three games.

When people ask me who won that crucial 2019 PBA semifinal game between San Miguel and NLEX, I always smile because the answer involves one of those magical playoff moments that makes basketball so compelling. The final score read 111-102 in favor of San Miguel Beermen, but that simple number doesn't begin to tell the full story of how they clinched the series 3-1. What made this victory particularly memorable wasn't just the outcome but how it unfolded, especially considering Marcio Lassiter's remarkable turnaround. I've always been a firm believer that shooters need to keep shooting regardless of previous struggles, and Lassiter embodied this philosophy perfectly that night.

Coming into Game 4, Lassiter's three-point shooting had been, to put it mildly, concerning. The numbers don't lie - he was 1-of-7 from beyond the arc in the series, including going 0-of-1 in Game 2 and a frustrating 0-of-3 in Game 3. As an analyst, I'd seen this pattern before with shooters in playoff scenarios - the tighter defense, the increased pressure, the slight hesitations that disrupt rhythm. Honestly, I was worried about his confidence heading into this elimination game. But what separates good players from great ones is their ability to break through when it matters most, and boy did Lassiter deliver when his team needed him most.

The turning point came when Lassiter finally freed himself from TNT's typically tight guarding scheme. I remember leaning forward in my seat when he hit his first three-pointer, thinking "there we go, that's the Marcio we know." But he wasn't done - not by a long shot. He knocked down not just one but two crucial threes, and what really had me jumping out of my chair was that incredible four-point play. That sequence completely shifted the game's momentum and, in my opinion, broke NLEX's spirit. It was one of those moments where you could see the entire energy of the arena change - from the players on the court to the fans in the stands.

What impressed me most about San Miguel's performance was their resilience. They withstood every NLEX run, answered every challenge, and showed why they've been one of the PBA's most successful franchises. The final statistics showed June Mar Fajardo putting up his usual dominant numbers with 22 points and 15 rebounds, but for me, Lassiter's 18 points, particularly those clutch threes, made the real difference. Chris Ross contributed significantly too with 20 points and 7 assists, but it was the collective response to adversity that stood out.

From a tactical perspective, I think San Miguel coach Leo Austria made some brilliant adjustments after Game 3, particularly in how they created better spacing for their shooters. They ran more off-ball screens for Lassiter, used Fajardo's post presence to draw defensive attention, and exploited the openings that created. Having studied countless PBA games over the years, I can tell you that these subtle adjustments often separate winning from losing in playoff basketball.

The game itself was closer than the final score suggests, with NLEX fighting valiantly until the final minutes. Kiefer Ravena put up an impressive 27 points for the Road Warriors, while Kenneth Ighalo added 22 points and 9 rebounds. But ultimately, San Miguel's championship experience and their ability to execute in crunch time proved decisive. I've always maintained that playoff basketball comes down to which team can maintain their composure during momentum swings, and San Miguel demonstrated exactly why they've won multiple championships.

Looking back, this game represented everything I love about PBA playoffs - the intensity, the strategic adjustments, and individual players rising to the occasion when their teams need them most. Lassiter's shooting performance, specifically his recovery from previous struggles, serves as a perfect case study in professional athlete mentality. In my years covering basketball, I've learned that shooting slumps are as much mental as they are technical, and watching Lassiter break through his was genuinely inspiring.

The victory propelled San Miguel Beermen into the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup Finals, where they would eventually claim the championship. While that finals series had its own memorable moments, I always circle back to this Game 4 against NLEX as the true turning point of their championship run. It was one of those games that reminded me why I fell in love with basketball in the first place - the unpredictability, the drama, and the sheer will of athletes performing under pressure. Even now, years later, when I discuss classic PBA playoff moments with fellow enthusiasts, Lassiter's breakout game and San Miguel's series-clinching victory always find their way into the conversation.