SAN MIGUEL Beer held NLEX without a bucket in the final 2:11 last night and went on to hack out a 79-76 decision in a Petron Saturday Special of the PBA Philippine Cup eliminations at Mindanao Civic Center Center in Tubod, Lanao del Sur.
Chris Lutz drained a jumper from the corner with 1:43 to go that ushered the Beermen to a 77-76 lead as San Miguel bounced back from its only loss of the season and rose to 4-1, good for solo second at the moment.
The loss was the third in five games for the Road Warriors, who took the lead for the last time at 76-75 after a KG Canaleta triple. NLEX had several attempts at turning things around but simply couldn’t buy a basket in the stretch.
Marcio Lassiter paced the Beermen with 22 points with four others tossing in twin digits.
Mac Cardona led the Road Warriors with 19 with Asi Taulava shooting 13.
Meanwhile, Purefoods could get an extra pair of shooting hands today when the Star Hotshots face Ginebra at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Former two-time MVP James Yap is expected back in the roster for the 5:15 p.m. game as the Hotshots shoot for a second straight victory against a Ginebra side that is also looking to again string another winning streak.
Both squads will be coming off close victories against foes in the bottom half of the standings, with the Gin Kings scoring a 100-91 decision over newcomer Blackwater last week.
Purefoods, on the other hand, rallied to pip Globalport, coming from 18 points down in the third period to hack out an 81-75 win even with Yap watching the game in civvies from the bench.
Even if not yet 100 percent, Yap can certainly change the defensive formation of the Kings, who will again rely on their hulking frontline of Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar.
Yap is the last superstar that the Hotshots are waiting to return, with sophomore center Ian Sangalang out for at least six months because of an ACL tear.
Coach Tim Cone said after the victory over Globalport that Yap could be playing against the Kings, who are also getting big contributions from their guard rotation backstopped by LA Tenorio and Mark Caguioa.
With Sangalang out, it will be up to Marc Pingris to anchor Purefoods’ inside defense, with help to come from Rafi Reavis and the veteran Don Allado, who was signed to a short-term deal to pitch in while Sangalang is gone.
Meanwhile, the Batang Pier shoot for their first winning streak in three conferences—and the first under coach Pido Jarencio—when they clash with the Elite in the 3 p.m. contest.
Globalport is coming off an 84-79 win over KIA Motors and will be taking on an expansion squad for the second straight game.
The Batang Pier will also welcome back Alex Cabagnot, the perennial all-star who sat it out against KIA because of flu-like symptoms.
His absence almost put the Batang Pier offense in disarray before they were rescued by No. 1 Draft pick Stanley Pringle in the endgame.
The scores:
SAN MIGUEL BEER 79—Lassiter 22, Lutz 13, Ross 12, Santos 12, Fajardo 11, Tubid 8, Mercado 1, R. Pascual 0, Omolon 0, Semerad 0, Chua 0.
NLEX 76—Cardona 19, Taulava 13, Ramos 11, Canaleta 10, J. Villanueva 8, Arboleda 7, Baloria 6, Villanueva 2, Camson 0, Borboran 0, Apinan 0.
Quarters: 18-21, 42-40, 59-64, 79-76