[ad_1]
Champion DEFENDING San Miguel Beer played with the heart of a champion despite a limping lineup to score an 89-82 victory over Meralco on Wednesday at the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the University of Angeles Foundation gym. .
Mo Tautuaa proved to be a key component of the Beermen’s rotation in the absence of six-time MVP June Mar Fajardo and Alex Cabagnot were tasked with avoiding a Meralco team starving for the skin of the champions.
“We are very lucky in the fourth quarter because we were able to catch up,” said San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria. “The players know that it is time to win and they know how to win.”
We bet on the experience of the players ”, he added.
Tautuaa scored 10 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter to go with five rebounds, while Cabagnot scored nine of his 13 points also in that playoff period, including those clutch baskets that put San Miguel Beer ahead, 86-80, with more than two and a half minutes to play.
Veteran playmaker Chris Ross, who dished out 12 points, five steals and four assists, delivered the knockout blow, a triple that gave the Beermen a breather, 89-82, with just 19 seconds to go.
After that, they were never threatened and the Beermen got their third win in a row.
Arwind Santos had a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds and Marcio Lassiter added 12 points for the Beermen.
San Miguel Beer improved to 4-2 win-lost to tie Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Phoenix Super LPG for third place.
Fajardo recovers from a leg injury while Terrence Romeo is nursing on a dislocated shoulder.
Baser Amer scored 17 points for the Bolts, who led to 67-54 with less than a minute left in the third period.
San Miguel Beer responded with a fiery 19-4 run topped off by large baskets from Tautuaa for a 79-73 lead with less than four minutes remaining.
Bolts were down to 3 cards.
Scores:
Cerveza San Miguel 89 – Tautuaa 23, Santos 17, Lassiter 12, Ross 12, Cabagnot 13, Gamalinda 4, Pessumal 4 ,, Zamar 2, Escoto 2, Mamaril 0.
Meralco 82 – Amer 17, Hugnatan 15, Newsome 14, Hodge 7, Quinto 6, Almazan 5, Maliksi 5, Jamito 4, Pinto 2, Faundo 0, Black 7, Jackson 0.
Trimesters: 19-20, 40-40, 60 69, 89-82.
