Williams nets 33 as Beermen survive Energy in overtime

Reggie Williams of San Miguel (dark) vs Mick Pennisi and Keith Jensen of Barako (light). PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines — Reggie Williams had the hot hand as the injury-hit San Miguel Beer side escaped Barako Bull, 115-112, in overtime in the 2014 PBA Governors’ Cup Wednesday at the Alonte Sports Center in Biñan, Laguna.

Williams, the former Oklahoma City Thunder guard, lit it up with 33 points on 13-of-20 shooting from the field, including five 3-pointers.

The Beermen looked on their way to winning in regulation after Williams’s basket made it, 100-94, with a shade under three minutes left.

But it took just less than a minute for the Energy to score seven unanswered points and take a 101-100 edge after a rare four-point play by Leo Najorda and an open trey from Ronjay Buenafe, both off Jeric Fortuna’s assists, with still 2:02 remaining

Williams answered with his own triple before second-generation import Eric Wise sent the game into extra time, 103-all, with an inside incursion off a setup job by the former University of Santo Tomas star Fortuna at the 1:33 mark of the fourth period.

The rookie Fortuna though, couldn’t cap off his solid play down the stretch after forcing the issue and missed a potential game-winning jumper near the top of the key at the end of regulation.

SMB, which racked up its third straight win while handing Barako Bull its third defeat in a row, again created separation, 112-105, with 1:52 left in OT.

But refusing to go down without a fight, the hot-shooting Energy quickly rallied and pulled to within a point, 111-112, after back-to-back triples by Mick Pennisi and Buenafe with 1:11remaining.

The Energy’s blistering shooting from long range almost got them through but their defense cost them a win that could’ve sprung their campaign back to life.

June Mar Fajardo made it a two possession game, 115-111, after a completing a three-point play with 55.7 ticks left before Jason Deutchman split his charities.

Sol Mercado could’ve put the game away at the free throw line with 9.0 seconds to go but he muffed both freebies that allowed Barako Bull for one last crack to tie the count and force another extra five minutes. But the Energy didn’t get the result they wanted coming off a timeout with Fortuna taking a deep attempt from the left wing.

Marcio Lassiter sat the game out after his shin got stitched up when he crashed into the VIP seats of the Mall of Asia Arena last Sunday during the Beermen’s narrow win over the San Mig Coffee Mixers. Fajardo got hurt in the third quarter but he was able to shake it off and still end up with 26 points.

Wise also had 33 points while Pennisi added 20 points before fouling out in the final 55.7 seconds of OT.

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