SMB snaps Kings’ streak
Games Wednesday (Ynares Center, Antipolo City) 4:15 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Phoenix 7 p.m. – TNT KaTropa vs NLEX
Grand Slam-seeking San Miguel Beer survived a late comeback by defending champion Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and carved out a 107-103 win to stay in the hunt for a top four spot in the PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
New import Terrence Watson proved to be a major replacement for the ineffective Terik Bridgeman as he produced 27 points and 17 rebounds even as Arwind Santos came off the bench to score 23 points to put the Beermen in a tie for fourth place with TNT KaTropa at 5-3.
Chris Ross had 20 points and Alex Cabagnot hit 11 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter for San Miguel, which boosted its quest to clinch a twice-tobeat advantage given to the top four teams which will make the quarterfinals of the season-ending conference.
Ginebra dropped to 7-2, its sevengame winning run snapped, to fall in a tie for the lead with idle NLEX.
So frustrated with his team’s poor start when it fell behind 30-16 after the opening period and 59-33 early in the third frame that coach Tim Cone sat on the bench most of the time and made lead assistant coach Richard del Rosario call the shots.
Ginebra did try to orchestrate its signature comeback when Santos was called for a goal tending violation on a three-point shot by LA Tenorio with 1:10 left, putting Ginebra within 101-93.
Cabagnot, however, answered with a jump shot on the next play with 54.1 seconds left.
Earlier, Alaska overcame a 10-point deficit entering the fourth quarter and import Geron Johnson’s big offensive game to come away with a 102-94 victory over winless Kia.
Calvin Abueva had 26 points and 15 rebounds while also playing a part taking Johnson off of his game during the crucial stretch as the Aces kept their playoff hopes alive with their third win after 14 straight losses – six of which came during the start of the conference.
The Aces moved a game behind the Blackwater Elite (4-5) for the eighth spot in the standings, and will need to beat the Meralco Bolts and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in their final two elims matches to stay in the hunt. Abueva 26, Henton 20, Casio 20, Exciminiano 14, Banchero 11, Thoss 4, Racal 3, Baclao 2, Cruz 2, Mendoza 0, Magat 0, Pascual 0, Galliguez 0, Enciso 0. Johnson 39, Paniamogan 12, Elorde 11, Yee 11, Khobuntin 10, Ballesteros 4, Celda 3, Jaime 2, Corpuz 2, Revilla 0, Camson 0, Salva 0. Quarters: 23-27; 46-51; 67-77; 102-94. Watson 28, Santos 23, Ross 20, Cabagnot 16, Fajardo 10, Lassiter 7, Rosser 3, Heruela 0, De Ocampo 0. Aguilar J. 18, Tenorio 17, Slaughter 16, Brownlee 14, Ferrer 11, Thompson 7, Caguioa 3, Mercado 2, Aguilar R. 0, Taha 0. Quarters: 30-16; 56-33; 87-65; 107-103.