With an all-around show of brilliance when it counted most, Chris McCullough again underscored his worth as last-minute replacement for the import, who carried the San Miguel Beermen to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup title two years ago.
The 6-foot-8 first-round pick by the Brooklyn Nets in 2015, who went on to play three seasons in the NBA, capped a game-high 24 points with a triple, set up June Mar Fajardo for a dunk then blocked two shots as the Beermen finally turned back the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 89-87, at the Xavier U gym in Cagayan de Oro City Saturday.
The win virtually cleared the way for the Beermen to join the four-team cast of qualifiers who will be shooting for two semifinal slots in separate best-of-three series and boost their bid for a second straight title after nailing a record fifth straight Philippine Cup crown last May.
The fast and deadly McCullough had unloaded 47 points against NLEX and delivered 37 against Phoenix after taking over from Charles Rhodes, the Best Import choice in 2017 who failed to provide the spark the Beermen needed this time.
After a 1-2 start, SMB is now tied for fifth with Magnolia at 5-5. Earlier assured of best-of-three stints in the quarterfinals are defending champion Barangay Ginebra and Blackwater with identical 6-4 slates for third.
With the Hotshots facing elimination pacesetter TNT KaTropa (9-1) and SMB tangling with Meralco (3-7) in the tournament’s last twinbill this Wednesday, the Beermen enjoy bright prospects of finishing fifth at 6-5.
Although assured of a top two finish and a twice-to-win bonus in the quarterfinals, TNT is expected to go for a win against Magnolia and secure an easier assignment against the No. 8 and last qualifier in the playoffs. A TNT loss will give NorthPort (9-2) a tie for first which will be broken in favor of the Batang Pier due to an earlier win over the KaTropa, who will then slide down to face the No. 7 qualifier instead.
But if the Hotshots fail to hurdle the KaTropa and the Bolts upset the Beermen, they drop into a tie with the Elasto Painters at 5-6 with the PBA quotient system deciding their final elimination placings.
Meanwhile, the Alaska Aces (4-6) were hoping to nail the last of eight quarterfinal berths against the Elite in a game going on at press time yesterday.
A loss drops Alaska in a tie with Phoenix Pulse (4-7) which will be settled by a playoff. A four-way deadlock for No. 8 is even possible if Meralco and Columbian Dyip, which is also facing Ginebra at press time, also end up at 4-7 with victories in their last outings.
If there’s a four-way tie, the PBA quotient will also determine their rankings with the top two eventually playing off for the last qualifying berth.