DEFENDING champion San Miguel survived a big scare from Converge, while TNT got back on the winning track in contrasting outcomes for the two powerhouse franchises in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Friday night.
The Beermen needed the best game of Juami Tiongson in a San Miguel uniform and held steady in the endgame for a 116-113 win over the FiberXers and snapped out of a two-game skid.
The Tropang Giga on the other hand, had vengeance in their eyes in a 106-70 thrashing of Phoenix in a huge bounce back following a stunning upset at the hands of lowly Terrafirma.
San Miguel improved to 5-6 and cling to solo eighth place as it extricated itself from a three-way tie with Magnolia and NLEX.
TNT meanwhile, forged a logjam at second spot along with guest team Eastern and Meralco, all with 7-3 slates.
The loss formally booted out Phoenix (3-9) in the quarterfinals running, even as Converge lost grip of its hold of the top spot to fall at fifth place with an 8-4 record.
Here are the few takeaways after the weekend games at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
1.SAN MIGUEL DODGES A BULLET
The Beermen almost crashed out of the Top 8 with a loss to the FiberXers, who battled back from a 19-point deficit and closed to within 114-113 with 1:36 remaining in the game.
Still, the reigning champions are still not out of the woods yet as breathing behind their necks are the Magnolia Hotshots and NLEX Road Warriors in the battle for the eighth and last quarterfinals berth.
San Miguel has one game left, while the Hotshots and Road Warriors two each, with the possibility of all three teams ending up tied in a three-way logjam.
2.PRESSURE SHIFTS TO MAGNOLIA, NLEX
With San Miguel moving one win ahead of them, the Hotshots and Road Warriors are now pressed to win their next game to keep in step with the reigning champion and stay alive in the quarterfinals race.
And the two are up against teams that are also in strong contenders in Hong Kong-based Eastern and Rain or Shine. The Road Warriors battle the Elasto Painters on Saturday and the Hotshots up against Eastern on Sunday.
3.BEERMEN NEEDS CONSISTENCY FROM JUAMI
The veteran guard is an obvious additional firepower to an already potent San Miguel offensive artillery, and he showed exactly he can contribute big time to the team’s cause should he always comes out the way he did against Converge when he finished with a team-high 22 points in easily his best production as a Beerman since arriving in the team.
An active Juami could help the reigning champion play significantly in the playoffs should it eventually makes it.
Following victories by TNT and San Miguel, the Fuel Masters and Bossing bid goodbye to their respective quarterfinals bid. Phoenix faced a do-or-die against TNT last Friday, which it lost. The Bossing’s fate meanwhile, rested on the outcome of the Beermen’s game against the FiberXers.
A San Miguel loss would have Blackwater keeping its slim playoffs hope alive.
Unfortunately, the Beermen have other things in mind. Blackwater still has one remaining game left against Northport on Saturday.
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