ANTIPOLO - George King poured in 41 points as San Miguel stayed unbeaten at the expense of Converge, 128-122, on Wednesday in the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Center.
Cjay Perez added 31 points including a buzzer-beating four at the buzzer, capping a decisive third quarter where the Beermen gained full control by outscoring the FiberXers, 41-31.
READ SMB says Leo Austria still coach as he deals with 'health issue'
With its third straight victory, the Beermen gained a share of first place in Group B with NLEX ahead of their face-off on Sunday.
Converge fell to 3-1.
King was all over the court on the offensive end, shooting 16-of-32 from the field. He combined with Perez to score 23 points in the first quarter where the Beermen got their biggest lead, 27-10.
King and Perez also helped SMB weather the storm after Converge battled back from that slow start to post a 57-53 lead at one point in the second quarter. The two totaled 44 points in the second half to give the Beermen the lead for good.
“I think they came out with a sense of urgency in the second half,” said San Miguel lead assistant Peter Martin, sitting in as head coach Leo Austria missed his third straight game due to an undisclosed illness.
“In the first half, medyo gigil kami sa first five minutes kaya we got that big lead… One of the things that we have to correct is complacency, Coach Leo, everyday he will tell us that,” Austria said.
Marcio Lassiter also had 18 points on 3-of-5 shooting from threes, some of which came late in the second period to help the Beermen regain the lead at the break.
Justin Arana had 29 points, falling one short of a third consecutive 30-point outing for Converge.
The scores:
San Miguel 128 – King 41, Perez 31, Lassiter 18, Trollano 11, Fajardo 10, Hernandez 6, Brondial 6, Ahanmisi 5, Cruz 0, Tautuaa 0.
Converge 122 – Arana 29, Baltazar 16, Hudson 15, Stockton 14, Williams 12, Gomez de Liano 12, Abueva 10, Concepcion 8, Policarpio 6, Garcia 0.
Quarters: 30-23; 61-60; 102-91; 128-122.
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