SAN MIGUEL BEER TRIPS SAN MIG COFFEE
Reggie Williams kept the game in the balance with two missed foul shots in the last 5.6 seconds but himself pulled a defensive gem that preserved San Miguel Beer’s pulsating 92-90 win over San Mig Super Coffee in the PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors’ Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Sunday night.
Muffing game-clinching charities, Williams quickly played defense, completing a big steal off Marqus Blakely to close out the game for the Beermen just the same.
Thus, the Beermen moved up to third place at 2-1 while relegating the Mixers to joint fifth with the Alaska Aces at 1-1.
“It feels good when you end up on top, but we have a very long way to go,” said San Miguel Beer consultant Todd Purves.
“Williams really pushed himself minutes wise. He just kept battling,” said Purves on their prized import’s performance.
Williams’ big steal off Blakely proved to be the cherry on his remarkable 29-point outing.
June Mar Fajardo delivered another solid double-double game with 18 points and 18 rebounds while Chris Ross came through with numerous big plays at the finish as the Beermen bucked the early ouster of Marcio Lassiter on an injury.
Ross scored 13 of his 15 points in the payoff period, helping San Miguel to a key turnaround from a nine-point deficit to a five-point lead, 92-87, with 13.7 left to play.
San Mig Coffee, however, got one final shot at winning the game or forcing overtime as James Yap banged in a trey before Williams missed two foul shots.
Alas, Blakely made a bad decision after pulling down the offensive rebound.
Instead of issuing an outlet pass to Mark Barroca, Blakely opted to bring down the ball himself. Worse, he opted to negotiate between the defenses of Williams and Ross.
Williams deflected the ball before eventually taking possession and dribbling away the remaining time to the delight of the SMB gallery.
The four-year NBA veteran fired away three treys in the fourth quarter, the last giving the Beermen an 88-83 lead with less than two minutes left to play.
A little later, Arwind Santos grabbed a crucial rebound setting up Fajardo for a trip to the line, making it 92-87 with 13.7 ticks to go. (SB)
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