Beermen squeak past Gin Kings to tie semis series

June Mar Fajardo. PBA IMAGES

San Miguel Beer escaped Barangay Ginebra, 95-92, to even their best-of-five semifinals series at 1-1 in the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup Wednesday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Reigning back-to-back MVP June Mar Fajardo bucked a cut above his right eye in the second quarter to wind up with 18 points, 23 rebounds and two blocks for the Beermen.

“In a best-of-five series, it’s important not to be in deep trouble going down 0-2,” said SMB head coach Leo Austria, whose team dropped Game 1, 115-108.

The Beermen lost a double-digit lead for the second straight game but unlike the series opener, they outplayed the Gin Kings down the stretch.

Ginebra clawed back from a 16-point hole in the second quarter and cut a 10-point deficit to just one, 93-92, after a 3-pointer by LA Tenorio with 20.7 seconds left.

The Kings nearly had a steal but their gamble left Elijah Millsap open for the baseline dunk that gave the Beermen a 95-92 cushion with 12.9 ticks remaining.

Justin Brownlee missed a triple that would’ve forced overtime. He had 18 points and 13 rebounds after putting up 39 points and 16 rebounds on Monday.

Millsap had 25 points on 9-of-29 shooting from the field and nine rebounds.

Game 3 is on Friday still at the Big Dome.

LA Tenorio bounced back from a scoreless Game 1 with a team-high 22 points, including 12 in the third quarter.

The Scores

SAN MIGUEL 95 – Millsap 25, Fajardo 18, Cabagnot 13, Tubid 10, Lassiter 8, Ross 8, Santos 7, De Ocampo 6, Reyes 0, Semerad 0.

GINEBRA 92 – Tenorio 22, Brownlee 18, Caguioa 11, Mercado 11, Mariano 10, Aguilar 9, Thompson 7, Cruz 4, Devance 0, Marcelo 0.

Quarterscores: 24-18, 51-40, 72-71, 95-92