PBA: San Miguel Beer staves off Rain or Shine rally for key win
San Miguel Beer guard CJ Perez attacks the rim against Rain or Shine in the PBA Philippine Cup in Cagayan De Oro.–PBA IMAGES
San Miguel Beer foiled Rain or Shine’s huge comeback in the fourth quarter to claim a 120-111 victory that fortified its chances of gaining the twice-to-beat advantage in the PBA Philippine Cup on Saturday in Cagayan de Oro City.
CJ Perez and Don Trollano knocked down the big shots down the stretch as the Beermen secured their seventh win in nine matches at Aquilino Pimentel Jr. International Convention Center, but not after they got a major scare from the Elasto Painters.
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Rain or Shine battled back from a 25-point deficit and was able to narrow the gap to just one, 103-102, with five minutes remaining in the final period.
But Trollano scored five in a row while Perez unveiled one four-pointer that restored order in San Miguel’s favor, 115-105, with less than two minutes to play.
Perez scored a game-high 33 points on top of eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals while Trollano dropped 24 points for the Beermen. June Mar Fajardo added 20 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals.
The Beermen need just one win in their remaining two games of the eliminations to secure the quarterfinal bonus. They play the Converge FiberXers on Wednesday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium and the NorthPort Batang Pier on June 15 at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
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Andrei Caracut produced 24 points spiked by five triples and one four-pointer with seven assists while Adrian Nocum scored 22, but the Elasto Painters dropped to 6-4 for joint sixth with the FiberXers.
Rain or Shine now must beat Barangay Ginebra on June 15 to have a chance at the twice-to-beat.
Things got heated late in the contest when San Miguel’s Chris Ross and Rain or Shine’s Jhonard Clarito were slapped with technicals following the latter’s offensive foul.
Nocum was also charged with a technical for swiping the ball from Ross after committing a foul on the ensuing possession.
