MARCIO Lassiter buried a corner jumper with 2.6 seconds left and San Miguel opened its title-retention bid with a 107-104 win over Phoenix on Tuesday in the PBA 49th Season Commissioner's Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Lassiter's game-winner completed the Beermen's comeback from 16 points down to start the conference, dealing the Fuelmasters a deflating defeat in yet another game where they failed to hold on to a sizeable lead.
Lassiter’s jumper from the left corner preserved the heroics of newly-acquired former Terrafirma players Juami Tiongson and Drei Cahilig, who spearheaded the SMB comeback from the depths of an 87-71 fourth-quarter deficit.
San Miguel's comeback also spoiled a big game by Tyler Tio, whose lay-up with 14.7 seconds left gave Phoenix back the upperhand, 106-105.
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CJ Perez was the top scorer for San Miguel with his 18 points on 7-for-16 shooting from the field - 14 coming in the first quarter.
Lassiter added 15 points in another clutch moment for the San Miguel veteran, whose son was celebrating his birthday.
Tiongson and Cahilig knocked down shots in a telling fourth-quarter run, rescuing the Beermen in their first game since being acquired in a trade with Terrafirma in exchange for Terrence Romeo and Vic Manuel.
Of the two ex-Dyip players, it was actually Cahilig who made the most impact in that comeback, making three straight threes to cut the deficit to 87-80.
Cahilig finished with 12 points on four threes in the fourth period, the last one enabling San Miguel to cut Phoenix’s lead by half, 98-95.
Tiongson added eight points including the game-tying three right after Cahilig’s final three of the contest.
“I talked to them before the game and told them just to play how you guys are playing with Terrafirma, and you guys will play okay here," said San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent.
Donovan Smith had 37 points for Phoenix in a loss similar to its previous loss to Meralco where the Fuelmasters squandered a 20-point deficit.
The scores:
San Miguel 107 – Perez 18, Lassiter 15, Miller 14, Trollano 14, Cahilig 12, Tiongson 8, Fajardon8, Cruz 8, Enciso 5, Ross 3, Brondial 2, Tautuaa 0.
Phoenix 104 – Smith 37, Tio 23, Perkins 21, Tuffin 7, Rivero 4, Jazul 4, Garcia 3, Manganti 3, Ballungay 2, Verano 0, Ular 0, Alejandro 0, Camacho 0.
Quarters: 28-29; 54-49; 71-80; 107-104.
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