Lassiter the hero as SMB outlasts Gins for 2-0 lead
MANILA--Marcio Lassiter made the big shots down the stretch as San Miguel Beer claimed a hard-earned 104102 overtime win in Game 2 of their PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Lassiter scored all but one of his 25 points in the second half and overtime period, including a tip-in off a June Mar Fajardo miss with just three seconds to go that gave San Miguel the lead for good.
Scottie Thompson then committed a turnover in Ginebra’s final possession, and San Miguel completed a comeback from a 15-point deficit to seize a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven semifinals series.
“I think ‘yung panalo namin is tsamba. We thought from the start na we’re losing this game, but maybe because of the pride and the experience of the team, they don’t wanna lose because they know the importance of this game,” SMB coach Leo Austria said after their victory.
Fajardo led San Miguel with a tremendous 33-point, 19-rebound effort. Alex Cabagnot and Chris Ross each scored 13 points, while Arwind Santos fired 11 markers – including the booming three-pointer in the fourth period that sent the game into overtime.
The Gin Kings had a seemingly comfortable five-point lead, 95-90, with just 67 seconds to go in regulation after a lay-up by Joe Devance. But two free throws by Fajardo made it a one-possession game, and a bricked triple by Sol Mercado gave San Miguel the opening it needed with still 33 seconds to play.
Ginebra got a huge stop when Japeth Aguilar denied Fajardo, only for Fajardo to regain possession. However, the reigning MVP shockingly missed a short stab, and Aguilar tipped the ball out – right into the waiting hands of Santos who splashed the game-tying three-pointer.
The Gin Kings agonizingly blew its chance to win the game in regulation after both Devance and Thompson bricked close-range shots as time expired.
“Arwind is always there naman kung kailangan mo,” said Austria after the game. “If not for Arwind’s tying basket from the three-point area, it’s already 1-1.”
Ginebra seized control early in the extra period, going up 102-98 off a huge Devance triple with 61 seconds to go. That was when Lassiter took over for SMB. He tipped in a miss by Fajardo with 51.7 seconds left, then calmly knocked down two freebies off an LA Tenorio foul to tie the game at 102 with 15.8 seconds to go.
San Miguel got a stop when Ginebra was called for a five-second inbound violation, and in their final possession, Lassiter found Fajardo open off a pick-androll. Fajardo would again miss the lay-up, but Lassiter was there for the putback that served as the gamewinner.
“The presence of mind ni Marcio is always there,” said Austria.
“That’s why sabi ko this is tsamba. But tsamba man o ano, tatanggapin ko ng maluwag sa kalooban dahil a win is a win,” he added.
Aguilar had 28 points, seven rebounds, and five assists for Ginebra, while Devance had 11 points. Thompson and Jervy Cruz each had 10 markers.
Relegated to a footnote was the breakout game of Prince Caperal, who torched San Miguel for 26 points and eight rebounds in just under 32 minutes of action.
Game 3 of the best-ofseven series is on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena. CBN/ Abs-cbnnews
Fajardo 33, Lassiter 25, Ross 13, Cabagnot 13, Santos 11, Ganuelas-Rosser 7, Heruela 2, Pessumal 0, Espinas 0, De Ocampo 0. Aguilar J. 28, Caperal 26, Devance 11, Thompson 10, Cruz 10, Tenorio 8, Mercado 7, Mariano 2.