Beermen nip Energy in OT

JUNE Mar Fajardo (right) of San Miguel Beer, puts up a shot against Barako Bull’s Mick Pennisi. PBA IMAGES/NUKI SABIO

BIÑAN, Laguna—Reggie Williams again bailed San Miguel Beer out with some torrid outside shooting although the Beermen needed extra time to pull out a 115-112 win over Barako Bull Wednesday night in the PBA Governors’ Cup at Alonte Sports Center here.

The NBA veteran with the Oklahoma City Thunder and former two-time US NCAA Division I scoring champion hurt the Energy with two triples to open up the extension and San Miguel went on to win a third straight game for 3-1.

It was a painful loss for Barako Bull, which had a lot of time to forge another extension only to muff two chances, with rookie Jeric Fortuna muffing a trey at the buzzer.

Williams, who was also the hero in a 92-90 victory over San Mig Coffee on Sunday, finished with 33 points and 13 rebounds, making 5-of-9 attempts from beyond the arc while dismantling the Barako Bull zone in the stretch.

“I am just so proud of the guys for hanging tough in there,” active assistant SMB coach Todd Purves said.

Later in the night, Talk ‘N Text held on for a thrilling 83-81 victory over Rain or Shine.

Williams hit his third triple with 1:48 left for a 103-101 lead, before Energy import Eric Wise connected on a short jumper for 103-all with still 1:33 to go.

Barako Bull also had a chance to win it in regulation, after Dave Marcelo, another rookie out of San Beda, read an entry pass to June Mar Fajardo well and tapped the ball away to Willie Wilson, leaving the Energy with 10.1 seconds to map out a final play.

But Fortuna muffed the last attempt in regulation.

The play San Miguel designed for Fajardo in its last possession in regulation worked with 55.7 seconds left in overtime, and the 6-foot-10 sophomore completed a three-point play off Mick Pennisi for 115-111.

THE SCORES:

First Game

SAN MIGUEL BEER 115—Williams 33, Fajardo 26, Ross 10, Santos 10, Mercado 9, Lutz 8, Tubid 7, Maierhofer 4, Chua 4, Kramer 2, Lanete 2.

BARAKO BULL 112—Wise 33, Pennisi 20, Najorda 12, Buenafe 10, Fortuna 10, Jensen 8, Marcelo 6, Lastimosa 4, Wilson 2, Isip 2, Miller 2, Intal 2.

Quarters: 32-26, 58-54, 80-78, 103-103, 115-112

Second Game

TALK ‘N TEXT 83—Alapag 15, Canaleta 15, Fonacier 14, Carney 13, De Ocampo 9, Williams 6, Carey 4, Reyes Ryan 2, Baclao 2, Castro 2, Reyes Rob 1.

RAIN OR SHINE 81—Reid 19, Chan 12, Almazan 9, Lee 8, Rodriguez 8, Tang 7, Tiu 5, Norwood 5, Arana 4, Belga 2, Cruz 2, Ibanes 0, Uyloan 0.

Quarters: 28-26, 45-41, 61-63, 83-81