PBA IMAGES
REGAINING its poise like the champion team that it is, San Miguel Beer Sunday night went through virtual hell before surviving Barangay Ginebra, 111-105, in double overtime, to claim a share of second place in the PBA Governors’ Cup elimination round at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Arizona Reid scored six points in the second extension—two more than what the Gin Kings totaled—and helped the Beermen survive the loss of a 24-point lead late in the third quarter and a nine-point cushion with just 2:42 left in the first overtime to rise to 4-1.
The loss was the first in the last four games for Ginebra and second in six games overall.
It also marked the first time in league history that both games for the day went for 58 minutes after GlobalPort pulled off a 126-123 win over Meralco in the first game.
Anthony Semerad capped a career night with a triple from deep right corner with 14.9 seconds left in the second overtime to lift the Batang Pier to their first win after five starts.
Semerad finished with 24 points.
Meralco dropped to a level 3-3.
“Hopefully, this would touch off a [winning] streak,” said Johnedel Cardel, listed as GlobalPort head coach but, in an odd set-up, yields to consultant Franz Pumaren in calling the plays and making player movements during games.
The scores:
First Game
GLOBALPORT 126—Glover 26, Romeo 24, Semerad 24, Pringle 15, Yeo 11, Washington 8, Dehesa 8, Kramer 6, Taha 4, Mamaril 0.
MERALCO 123—Durham 55, Faundo 12, Newsome 10, Hodge 9, Caram 8, Uyloan 6, Buenafe 6, Hugnatan 6, Dillinger 4, Nabong 4, Alapag 3, Amer 0, Bono 0.
Quarters: 21-24, 52-41, 82-71, 100-100(reg.), 114-114 (1OT), 126-123 (2OT)
Second Game
SAN MIGUEL 111—Reid 26, Fajardo 17, Lassiter 17, Cabagnot 16, Tubid 14, Santos 9, Ross 6, David 6, Arana 0, Heruela 0, Reyes 0.
GINEBRA 105—Brownlee 38, Tenorio 17, Devance 16, Aguilar 13, Mercado 9, Ellis 8, Caguioa 4, Helterbrand 0, Cruz 0, Mariano 0, Thompson 0.
Quarters: 28-14, 51-36, 78-68, 89-89 (reg.), 101-101 (1OT), 111-105 (2OT)