San Miguel Beer clinches 2nd spot after comeback win over Air21
Kevin Jones of San Miguel (dark) vs Wes Witherspoon and Mike Burstcher of Air21 (light). PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines – San Miguel Beer climbed back from a huge hole to stun Air21, 93-85, and secure the second spot in the 2014 PLDT Home Tvolution PBA Commissioner’s Cup Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Beermen turned things around just in time — firing 38 points — in the fourth quarter alone after scoring just 35 points in the first half.
“We really struggled shooting. I thought we had some great looks early on in the game and we just missed some shots that we normally make,” said SMB consultant Todd Purves, whose team heads into the quarterfinals with a twice-to-beat advantage.
“The shots started to fall in the fourth quarter,” Purves added.
Kevin Jones scored 19 points and had 14 rebounds but interestingly, San Miguel Beer mounted their comeback with an all-Filipino lineup led by reigning MVP Arwind Santos, June Mar Fajardo and Chris Ross.
Santos hit 10 of his 18 points in the final frame while Fajardo and Ross combined for 12 points in the last period where the Beermen rallied from 17 down.
A fresh Jones was inserted back in midway past the fourth period and he would eventually give his team the lead on a go-ahead 3-pointer, 80-78, with 3:56 remaining.
Santos followed it up with his own trey before two free throws by Ross and an inside bucket by Jones sealed the Beermen’s seventh win against two losses.
Wesley Witherspoon wound up with a game-high 27 points but he too couldn’t do anything to stop San Miguel and the Express’ sudden scoring slump after putting up an imposing 72-55 advantage to start the fourth quarter.
Fajardo finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks while Ross tallied points, four rebounds, five assists to go along with four steals, all in the fourth quarter alone.
The Express, who slid to 3-6 and are in danger of arranging a date with the unbeaten Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters in the playoffs, only committed 10 turnovers through three quarters but had eight miscues in the last period.
Earlier in the conference, Air21 blew a 20-point advantage in a 98-109 loss to Meralco.
Swingman Marcio Lassiter added 17 points built on three triples for San Miguel Beer.
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