SAN Miguel passed its first litmus test of the conference, overcoming TNT, 91-89, on Sunday in the PBA 48th Season Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
The Beermen led by as many as 15 points, but survived nervy moments late in the ballgame to pick up their second win in as many outings, defeating one of the traditional title contenders in the league in the Tropang Giga.
Jericho Cruz split his two free throws with 15.4 seconds remaining in the contest which proved to be enough for San Miguel to escape with the win. Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser missed an open three-pointer in the final possession of the contest.
TNT dipped to 2-2 with the defeat heading into the All-Star/Holy Week break.
The Tropang Giga also shot themselves in the foot with Jayson Castro and Kelly Williams combining to miss three free throws in the final two minutes of the contest.
June Mar Fajardo had 15 points, 17 rebounds, and two blocks for the Beermen in the nail-biting win.
“We just executed well down the stretch. We just missed free throws. It was our defense in the last three (Ganuelas-Rosser shot) that made us win the game,” said San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent.
“Even if Ganuelas had an open shot, it was still challenged. That’s what I was telling them. If we can’t score, we will just make it bawi on defense and that’s what they did,” said Gallent, mentioning the defense of Chris Ross and Fajardo on Castro and Williams in their two-man game in the final minutes of the contest.
Cruz, Don Trollano, and Marcio Lassiter supported Fajardo by scoring 12 points apiece for the Beermen, whose biggest margin was at 52-37 late in the second quarter.
The loss spoiled the 20-point effort of Castro, who also had six assists for the Tropang Giga.
The scores:
San Miguel 91 – Fajardo 15, Trollano 12, Lassiter 12, Cruz 12, Enciso 9, Romeo 9, Perez 9, Ross 6, Teng 5, Tautuaa 2, Brondial 0.
TNT 89 – Castro 20, Pogoy 15, Oftana 14, Williams 14, Aurin 10, Ebona 4, Heruela 4, B. Ganuelas-Rosser 4, Khobuntin 2, Ponferada 2, Varilla 0, Reyes 0, Montalbo 0, M. Ganuelas-Rosser 0.
Quarters: 25-23; 52-39; 72-70; 91-89.
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