With its defense holding the enemy to the bare minimum in the stretch last night, San Miguel Beer scored an 82-75 victory over Rain or Shine to formally clinch a twice-to-beat privilege in the first round of the PBA Governors’ Cup playoffs.
The defending champion Beermen yielded just a free throw to the Elasto Painters inside the final 3:11 at Mall of Asia Arena to rise to 7-3 and keep the race for No. 1 open going into the final four playdates of the elimination round.
Michael Singletary, whose spot in the San Miguel roster is “still being evaluated,” collected 23 points, 12 rebounds and four assists with former MVP Arwind Santos adding 20 and nine boards and the block of the night inside the final minute on Maverick Ahanmisi that sealed the deal.
San Miguel pulled out the win even with All-Star point guard Alex Cabagnot out because of a viral infection and the Beermen getting just 11 points from reigning two-time MVP June Mar Fajardo.
“The players knew the importance of this game for us,” San Miguel coach Leo Austria told reporters, referring to the jockeying for position in the top four. “The talent of the team prevailed, I just hope that in our next games, we win because of our system.”
Alaska blasted Phoenix Petroleum in the first game, 103-87, to seal a seat in the quarterfinals while also knocking idle Star out of the playoff race and giving the Painters a free ride to the next round.
San Miguel set up what could be a wild finish to the classification phase, as TNT KaTropa could still be relegated to No. 2 overall depending on the results next week.
With an 8-1 record, the Texters are just a full game ahead of the 7-2 Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings, with both squads still to clash in the final date of the eliminations on Sept. 18.
Having two games left each and granting that the Texters and the Gin Kings win their respective outings before the last elimination round game, that match slated at 7 p.m. at Alonte Sports Complex will be for No. 1.
The scores:
First Game
ALASKA 103—Jazul 19, Abueva 18, Henton 15, Banchero 11, Thoss 11, Casio 10, Dela Rosa 6, Racal 5, Baclao 4, Galliguez 3, Magat 1, Dela Cruz 0, Exciminiano 0, Hontiveros 0.
PHOENIX 87—Phelps 34, Enciso 9, Urbiztondo 9, Baguio 8, Lee 6, Torres 6, Borboran 5, Cruz 5, J. Wilson 3, Buenafe 2, Lanete 0, Miranda 0, Pennisi 0, W. Wilson 0, Hayes 0.
Quarters: 29-23, 51-39, 76-66, 103-87
Second Game
SAN MIGUEL 82—Singletary 23, Santos 20, Fajardo 11, Lassiter 6, Tubid 6, Araña 4, De Ocampo 4, Abdeen 2, Espinas 2, Heruela 2, Ross 2.
RAIN OR SHINE 75—Dollard 18, Ponferada 12, Cruz 10, Quiñahan 10, Ahanmisi 6, Belga 6, Norwood 5, Trollano 5, Lee 2, Almazan 1, Chan 0, Tiu 0.
Quarters: 23-21, 42-30, 60-55, 82-75