Santos hits game-winner for SMB

Games Wednesday (Ynares Sports Arena)

12:30 p.m. – San Miguel vs Blackwater 3 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Alaska/ 6 p.m. – Phoenix vs Meralco

Arwind Santos drained the game-winner as San Miguel Beer got away with an 88-86 victory over NorthPort and spoiled Greg Slaughter’s debut for the Batang Pier in the 46th PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City yesterday.

The veteran forward received a perfect pass from Marcio Lassiter and calmly nailed the go-ahead jumper with 1.2 seconds left, saving the Beermen from the blushes and sealing their second straight win and a 2-1 card.

Santos’ heroics were a fitting redemption to his costly mistake the play before. He incurred a technical foul on a looseball collision with Sydney Onwubere, allowing Robert Bolick to tie the game at 86 with 7.3 ticks left.

In the second game, Magnolia ruled the fabled “Manila Clasico” against Barangay Ginebra, 89-79, for its third victory in as many outings.

The Gin Kings slipped to 1-2 in a tie with the Batang Pier despite the 22 markers of last season’s Best Player of the Conference, Stanley Pringle.

And later in the night, Kevin Alas scored 21 markers as NLEX (2-2) got back on track with a gritty 108-94 win over Terrafirma (0-2).

The scores: First Game San Miguel 88 – Perez 18, Santos 17, Cabagnot 16, Tautuaa 11, Fajardo 8, Lassiter 6, Pessumal 6, Ross 3, Gamalinda 3.

Northport 86 – Slaughter 23, Bolick 18, Onwubere 12, Balanza 11, Malonzo 10, Taha 9, Rike 1, Ferrer 1, Faundo 0, Elorde 0, Doliguez 0. Quarterscores: 21-21, 52-45, 79-63, 88-86. Second Game Magnolia 89 – Lee 22, Sangalang 17, Abueva 15, Barroca 15, Corpuz 9, Jalalon 5, , Dela Rosa 4, Reavis 2, Dionisio 0, Pascual 0, Ahanmisi 0.

Ginebra 79 – Pringle 22, Tenorio 13, Standhardinger 13, Thompson 13, J. Aguilar 9, Chan 9, Caperal 0, Dillinger 0, Ayaay 0, Devance 0. Quarterscores: 22-22, 46-42, 67-56, 89-79. Third Game NLEX 108 – Alas 21, Quinahan 19, Oftana 16, Cruz 15, Semerad 13, Soyud 7, Ravena 5, Porter 4, Trollano 4, Miranda 4.

Terrafirma 94 – Munzon 24, Ramos 17, Cahilig 10, Adams 9, McCarthy 8, Calvo 7, Rosser 6, Tiongson 5, Laput 4, Gabayni 2, Celda 2, Balagasay 0, Batiller 0.

Quarterscores: 23-25, 41-44, 73-67, 108-94.