PBA: Mo Tautuaa helps San Miguel escape pesky Terrafirma

San Miguel Beermen’s Mo Tautuaa in the PBA Philippine Cup. —PBA IMAGES

Mo Tautuaa scored a season-high 24 points including crucial shots down the stretch as San Miguel Beer survived Terrafirma, 113-110, Wednesday to remain unbeaten in the PBA Philippine Cup at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Tautuaa’s three-pointers and a basket in the dying seconds that eventually led to the final score allowed the Beermen to get their fifth win in as many games and keep their hold on top spot in the team standings.

Isaac Go missed a game-tying three as Terrafirma fell short of scoring a second straight win against a league heavyweight and dropped to 4-4.

Terrafirma was three days removed from a shock upset of Barangay Ginebra at the same venue.

READ: PBA: San Miguel beats Ginebra to stay unbeaten at 4-0

CJ Perez topscored for the Beermen with 25 points plus six rebounds and five assists while June Mar Fajardo added 20 points, 17 rebounds and six assists.

San Miguel had to shake off a 54-45 halftime deficit to keep the game close in the second half which saw both teams exchange leads.

Tautuaa produced 17 points in the fourth, including two triples, the last put San Miguel on top 111-107, time down to 1:34.

Go responded with a three before Tautuaa scored inside off Fajardo’s pass to make it a three-point advantage.

Juami Tiongson tried to shake off Tautuaa on Terrafirma’s last play, but opted instead to pass it to Stephen Holt, who after driving baseline kicked the ball out to Go for a chance to tie it with a three that didn’t connect.

Tiongson scored 24 points while Go and Javi Gomez de Liano added 21 points apiece for the Dyip.

PBA scores:

SAN MIGUEL 113—Perez 25, Tautuaa 24, Fajardo 20, Romeo 16, Cruz 9, Manuel 7, Lassiter 6, Trollano 5, Ross 1, Enciso 0, Teng 0.
TERRAFIRMA 110—Tiongson 24, Go 21, Gomez de Liano 21, Holt 18, Carino 9, Cahilig 6, Sangalang 5, Ramos 4, Alolino 2, Olivario 0, Calvo 0.
Quarters: 24-26,, 45-54, 78-75, 113-110.