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BIÑAN, Laguna—Mahindra brought down a second heavyweight in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night after getting five players in twin digits in a 102-96 upset of debuting San Miguel Beer in a Petron Saturday Special playdate at Alonte Sports Complex here.
KG Canaleta rifled in three straight triples during the game’s most crucial stretch that turned an 85-84 deficit into a 95-86 lead, before steady free throw shooting sealed the Enforcers’ second win in three starts.
The Beermen, whose local crew that rallied from 0-3 down to beat Alaska for the Philippine Cup title three weeks ago seemed a tad out of synch, got 29 points from Tyler Wilkerson.
“I’ll take the win, however it comes,” Mahindra coach Chito Victolero told reporters who pointed out that San Miguel’s locals seem to still haven’t gotten over the euphoria of that all-Filipino romp. “It was a tough game for us, especially after coming off a loss (to Blackwater).”
Aldrech Ramos scattered 26 points to lead Mahindra.
Also rising to 2-1 later in the night was NLEX, which clipped Star, 106-99, and kept the Hotshots winless after three games.
Garvo Lanete tossed in a career-high 21 points for the Road Warriors, including five in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter to spark NLEX.
Meanwhile, Rain or Shine breaks in a new import in Antoine Dominick Wright today when the Elasto Painters slug it out with winless Barangay Ginebra at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Wright comes in as an emergency replacement for Wayne Chism, who tore his left hamstring Wednesday against league-leader Meralco.
Tip-off is at 3 p.m. before the Bolts (3-0) try to move within another win of duplicating a franchise-best start when they tackle dangerous Phoenix Petroleum.
The scores:
First Game
MAHINDRA 102—Ramos 26, Revilla 19, Canaleta 15, Gilchrist 15, Dehesa 10, Guinto 9, Digregorio 4, Pinto 2, Yee 2, Webb 0, Jaime 0.
SAN MIGUEL BEER 96—Wilkerson 29, Santos 17, Lassiter 14, Araña 8, Fajardo 8, Ross 8, Heruela 5, Tubid 4, Espinas 3, Lutz 0, Reyes 0.
Quarters: 24-23, 51-45, 74-69, 102-96
Second Game
NLEX 106—Thornton 35, Lanete 21, Taulava 14, J. Villanueva 12, Alas 10, Anthony 9, Enciso 3, Reyes 2,Borboran 0, Khobuntin 0, Wilson 0, E.Villanueva 0.
STAR 99—Bowles 30, Maliksi 21, Simon 21, Yap 10, Pingris 9, Barroca 6, Melton 2, Torres 0, Sangalang 0, Reavis 0, Pascual 0.
Quarters: 22-26, 50-55, 77-82, 106-99