No collapse as San Miguel takes 2-1 lead over Rain or Shine
There would be no epic collapse by San Miguel Beer against Rain or Shine this time around, not with Arizona Reid making sure of it.
With Reid scoring 11 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter, the Beermen came out with a 114-108 victory Monday to move within just another win of wrapping up their PBA Governors Cup semifinals duel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Coming off a four-point performance, Alex Cabagnot was a big help with a personal season-high 26 points and nine assists while Marcio Lassiter and Ronald Tubid also left their indelible prints in the victory.
It was clearly Reid who carried the brunt in the end, however, enabling the Beermen to put a very tantalizing statistic on their side.
In the league’s 40-year history, 39 of 53 teams which broke out of a 1-all tie went on to win the series and SMB put itself closer to arranging a duel with early finalist Alaska by gamely bouncing back from a stinging 110-113 loss in Game 2 of the best-of-five series last Saturday.
“The reason why we won was we were able to adjust to what they did to us the last game. Our zone defense also clicked,” said SMB coach Leo Austria, whose team could close out the series Wednesday.
“I’m glad Alex found his game. AZ (Reid) also wants to win this game badly and it showed,” added Austria. “Today everyone wanted to win, even the players on the bench.”
Reid, totally outplayed by Rain or Shine counterpart Wendell McKines in the stretch of Game 2 when the Elasto Painters completed their overhaul of a 20-point third quarter deficit to steal it, strung up seven straight points to keep SMB’s head above water, 103-99.
McKines, who notched game-highs of 39 points and 12 rebounds, canned two charities to whittle the deficit to just two points.
But Reid scored on an elbow jumper, Cabagnot boomed in his fifth triple of the night, Reid scored another basket and then June Mar Fajardo scored on a followup reverse to practically put the game to bed, 112-103, only 1:29 to go.
Jireh Ibanes’ followup and Paul Lee’s corner trey put Rain or Shine within six, but Lassiter capped his 17-point game with a baseline jumper to beat the shot clock and make it 114-106 with only 51 ticks left.
Fajardo bucked foul trouble to also finish with 17 points on top of eight rebounds while Tubid added eight points off the bench, seven in the first 2:34 of the fourth period to give SMB a 96-89 lead.
Lee wound up with 22 points and five assists, Game 2 hero Jeff Chan 13 markers and Gabe Norwood 12 built around two triples, the last keeping Rain or Shine within 99-100.
The E-Painters started blowing their chance, however, when they flubbed six of their next seven offensive thrusts, two of those on turnovers. (NC)
The Scores
SAN MIGUEL 114 – Reid 37, Cabagnot 26, Lassiter 17, Fajardo 17, Tubid 8, Lutz 7, Santos 2, Ross 0, Omolon 0, Espinas 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 108 – McKines 39, Lee 22, Chan 13, Norwood 12, Tiu 10, Quinahan 5, Ibanes 2, Tang 2, Almazan 2, Cruz Jericho 1, Uyloan 0, Arana 0.
Quarters: 26-27, 56-54, 89-82, 114-108
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