SAN Miguel outplayed Barangay Ginebra, 83-81, on Sunday in their ooverseas game in the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
The Beermen led for most of the way in the league’s first game in Dubai after six years and a big Kris Rosales basket kept their sister team at bay in the endgame.
SMB, however, still had to endure nervy moments late when Troy Rosario stole the inbound pass of Rosales with 3.7 seconds left. The Beermen only escaped after Scottie Thompson missed a four-point shot as time expired.
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Save for that miscue, the Beermen were in full control to win their second straight game after an 0-2 start to their defense of the all-Filipino title.
June Mar Fajardo had 17 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocks as the Beermen dealt Ginebra its third loss in four games in a worrying start to the season.
JM Calma was also a big revelation with 10 points and nine rebounds, while Cjay Perez and Juami Tiongson also chipped in 10 apiece for the Beermen.
San Miguel led by as many as 14 points, 40-26, late in the second quarter, and responded with an 11-0 run after the Gin Kings tasted the lead briefly at 48-45.
Rosales had eight points and made sure to keep SMB’s lead by draining a free throw and a three-pointer with 1:56 left in the contest for a 79-72 lead.
Ginebra went 1-3 win-loss for the first time since the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup and since the 2015-16 season in the Philippine Cup, according to PBA statistics head Fidel Mangonon.
Japeth Aguilar finished with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks; RJ Abarrientos added 17 markers; and Thompson had 15 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists for the Gin Kings.
The scores:
San Miguel 83 – Fajardo 17, Tiongson 10, Perez 10, Calma 10, Rosales 8, Trollano 7, Teng 6, Lassiter 5, Tautuaa 4, Cahilig 3, Ross 3, Brondial 0.
Barangay Ginebra 81 – J. Aguilar 20, Abarrientos 17, Thompson 15, Holt 9, Torres 6, Rosario 6, David 5, Pinto 2, Estil 1, Gray 0.
Quarters: 24-16; 40-30; 61-53; 83-81.
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