BEERMEN ARREST SKID
Games Wednesday (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 3 p.m. – Terrafirma vs Magnolia / 6 p.m. – NLEX vs TNT
San Miguel Beer snapped a two-game slump in the 46th PBA Governors’ Cup with a breakthrough 91-88 victory over former stalwart Arwind Santos and his new team NorthPort yesterday at the Ynares Sports Arena.
The Beermen sank the import-less Batang Pier to a 27-point hole but needed to overcome a major fourth-quarter storm before escaping to their maiden win in three starts.
Brandon Brown scattered 24 points against the NorthPort locals, his last two points on the free throw line giving SMB a 91-85 cushion with 1:00 to go.
He hauled down 12 rebounds and issued seven assists and got scoring support from CJ Perez (15), June Mar Fajardo (15) and Marcio Lassiter (12).
Robert Bolick paced the Batang Pier (0-3) with 24, including 14 in the final canto, but he muffed his potential game-tying trey in the last seven seconds of play.
Santos produced 23 markers and 11 boards in his first game against SMB since their parting of ways in mid-season break.
“Scary game,” said SMB coach Leo Austria, whose “new-look” charges opened the tournament with losses to NLEX (114-102) and Alaska (99-94).
“We led by 27 but three points na lang ang natira. But a win is a win. This will give us some confidence going to our next games,” he added.
Pouncing on the absence of NP reinforcement Cameron Forte due to knee injury, SMB raced to a 26-9 tear in the first quarter and stretched it to a high 62-35 in the third
But with Bolick and Jamie Malonzo sparking a 30-19 exchange in the payoff period, NorthPort made it a down-to-thewire finish.
“We played well in the first three quarters but nag-relax sa bandang dulo,” said Austria.
Later in the night, Barangay Ginebra started its title defense with a grind-out 80-77 win over Alaska Milk (2-1).
Resident import Justin Brownlee joined hands with Stanley Pringle and LA Tenorio in delivering the endgame blows as Ginebra pulled through after playing catch-up throughout.
Brownlee was in his usual dependable self, accounting for 28 markers and 10 boards in his first gig since leading Ginebra to glory in the 2019 edition. The scores: First Game San Miguel Beer 91 – Brown 24, Fajardo 15, Perez 15, Lassiter 12, Manuel 10, Pessumal 9, Romeo 6, Enciso 0, Tautuaa 0.
NorthPort 88 – Bolick 24, Santos 23, Malonzo 22, Slaughter 10, Taha 4, Grey 2, Ferrer 2, Balanza 1, Elorde 0, Doliguez 0, Rike 0. Quarterscores: 26-9, 49-31, 72-58, 91-88 Second Game Ginebra 80 – Brownlee 28, Aguilar 11, Thompson 9, Standhardinger 8, Pringle 7, Tenorio 6, Tolentino 5, Salado 2, Caperal 2, Onwubere 2, Chan 0
Alaska 77 – Ashaolu 19, Herndon 12, Ahanmisi 10, Teng 10, Taha 9, Brondial 4, Tratter 3, Adamos 3, Racal 3, Digregorio 2, Tolomia 2, Stockton 0.
Quarterscores: 14-18, 34-38, 56-59, 80-77.