SAN Miguel closed in on a semifinal berth on Saturday after defeating Converge, 107-100, in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Beermen went up 2-0 in their best-of-five quarterfinal series after thwarting a late rally by the FiberXers, who now face elimination heading into Game Three scheduled on Monday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
READ: San Miguel weathers late Converge storm to win Game 1
EJ Anosike had 41 points, including a lay-up with 1:37 left in the fourth, part of San Miguel’s 8-2 run to bring its lead to 105-98 after seeing its lead get cut down to one.
The Beermen also took advantage of Justin Arana missing the majority of the fourth quarter due to a hyperextended knee.
Saturday’s game was similar to Game One where Converge went on a late comeback but shot itself in the foot with turnovers. This time, San Miguel earned the win with their doing, protecting a lead that reached as high as 12, 95-83, in the fourth quarter.
“We did better now,” said San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent. “We were really composed especially in the last six minutes of the game when we were only up by one. They players really found a way to win now. They played their hearts out in the last six minutes of the game that’s why we got the victory today.”
June Mar Fajardo had 15 points and 16 rebounds, while Kris Rosales had 11 points and five assists. CJ Perez had 10 points and eight assists, including a steal that led to a lay-up with 1:18 left in the game to stretch the lead to seven.
Jalen Jones had 36 points and 12 rebounds in a losing effort. Alec Stockton had 14 points, while Arana had 12 points but left the game in the 10:43-mark after making a lay-up to cut the San Miguel lead to 80-78.
Converge even led by nine in the second quarter, 36-27.
The scores:
San Miguel 107 – Anosike 41, Fajardo 15, Rosales 11, Perez 10, Lassiter 9, Romeo 8, Trollano 7, Cruz 6, Teng 0, Ross 0, Enciso 0, Brondial 0, Manuel 0.
Converge 100 – Jones 36, Stockton 14, Santos 12, Arana 12, Winston 8, Andrade 8, Delos Santos 4, Ambohot 4, Cabagnot 2, Melecio 0, Caralipio 0.
Quarters: 23-25; 48-51; 78-72; 107-100.
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