San Miguel snatches Game 2 from Alaska, takes 2-0 lead

Beermen celebrate. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Alaska looked well on its way to a leveled Finals series.

However, old reliables came to the rescue once again for San Miguel.

The Beermen made the big shots in the final three minutes to snatch game 2 of their best-of-seven-series from Alaska, 103-95, in the 2015 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals for a 2-0 series lead Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

With the game tied at 95, Marcio Lassiter drained the go-ahead left corner trey with a minute to go to put the Beermen up, followed by a couple of charities from June Mar Fajardo and Arizona Reid while Romeo Travis failed to find the bottom of the net in the other end for Alaska.

READ: Fajardo named Best Player of PBA Governors’ Cup

“Our last four plays were for Marcio. He really showed that he’s the top shooter of the PBA right now,” said coach Leo Austria of Lassiter. “I’m glad that our composure never waned.”

Lassiter starred in the win with 17 points on a 5-of-10 shooting from threes, to go with seven rebounds and three assists while AZ Reid, the bridesmaid for this conference’s Best Import plum, led the Beermen in scoring with 37 markers and seven dimes.

READ: Alaska import Romeo Travis beats AZ Reid for Best Import award

Fajardo, named as the Best Player of the Conference, also bucked a slow start to finish with 16 points on a 10-of-14 shooting from the free throw line, alongside 14 rebounds, while Alex Cabagnot had 13 in the win.

Trailing by as much as nine in the payoff period, the Beermen clawed right back powered by treys from Cabagnot and Lassiter, and tied the game at 95 on a drive from Reid drive with 1:27 left.

“It’s a nice game for us. We thought that we’re going to lose because of the adjustments they made, but fortunately, we still had Marcio in the corner and June Mar in the post,” Austria said.

Travis paced Alaska with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Sonny Thoss had 14 markers and 10 boards in the defeat.

Game 3 is on Wednesday, 7 p.m. at Smart Araneta Coliseum. CFC

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