PBA IMAGES
Arwind Santos provided the crucial stops in the endgame as San Miguel secured a 72-70 thriller over Barangay Ginebra to further tighten its grip of the top spot in the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The 2013 PBA Most Valuable Player hauled down three crucial rebounds in the clutch to preserve the Beermen’s win and keep them on top at 7-1.
San Miguel lost a 10-point lead, 72-62, with 2:25 left and allowed LA Tenorio to bring the Gin Kings within two late.
Santos would haul down two offensive boards on the other end, but Marcio Lassiter uncharacteristically muffed his freebies, giving Ginebra one last chance with 11.0 seconds to play.
But Tenorio would be bugged anew by Santos, forcing him to miss game-tying floater as the lanky forward milked the clock as he got the rebound.
“We knew from the start that this will be a tight game. The energy has gone down since last game against Blackwater and coming off the break. Buti na lang, may konti pang laman na Petron yung gas tank ng players,” said coach Leo Austria.
Santos finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds to extend San Miguel’s winning run to six.
Alex Cabagnot topscored for the Beermen with 16 markers and three rebounds, while Ronald Tubid had 12.
June Mar Fajardo was limited to just nine points and 11 rebounds in his foul-riddled showing in the game.
Japeth Aguilar paced Ginebra with 17 points and 11 boards, while Sol Mercado had 11 markers and six rebounds in the loss.
The Gin Kings dropped to ninth place with their 3-4 slate.
The scores:
SAN MIGUEL 72 – Cabagnot 16, Tubid 12, Santos 10, Fajardo 9, Lassiter 7, Espinas 7, De Ocampo 5, Ross 4, Garcia 2, Heruela 0.
GINEBRA 70 – Aguilar 17, Mercado 11, Tenorio 8, Devance 7, Ferrer 7, Thompson 6, Cruz 6, Ellis 2, Mariano 2, Marcelo 2, Caguioa 2.
Quarters: 15-17, 32-31, 53-49, 72-70.