Even a three-week break could not disrupt the San Miguel Beermen’s flow, as they had enough gas in the end-game to stop an upset-hungry Globalport Batang Pier, 115-112, Friday night at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
“Before the start of the game I was worried because we weren’t able to maximize our three-week break,” lamented SMB head coach Leo Austria, whose side improved to 3-1. “But the players’ experience showed up.”
Wendel McKines powered SMB with 35 points and 14 rebounds, but it was Arwind Santos who shone the brightest. The 11-year veteran scored 30 points, spiked by a career-high seven triples. He also had eight boards and five blocks.
The Beermen, who even went down by as much as 12 at halftime, gained the upper hand through an 11-3 spree — capped by Santos’ tough lay-up — en route to a 110-101 cushion with four minutes left in the final period.
But Globalport crawled back in the closing seconds, getting within a field goal, 112-114, after Stanley Pringle’s split with 9.6 seconds to go. But that proved to be their last gasp, as Santos split his own freebies with seven ticks left.
The Batang Pier had enough time to buy a basket, but Murphy Holloway’s contested triple from the top went off, sealing the SMB win.
Alex Cabagnot produced 27 points, seven rebound, and four assists for San Miguel. Marcio Lassiter scored 10, while Chris Ross, despite being scoreless, contributed two rebounds, seven assists and six steals.
June Mar Fajardo, still recovering from a calf injury, made his return to SMB after a two-week stint with Gilas Pilipinas in the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup. However, he played just over seven minutes, and tallied four points and a rebound.
Three of the Batang Pier scored over 20 points in the loss, with the returning Terrence Romeo leading the pack with 26 points on 56 percent shooting. Pringle chipped in 24, while Holloway scored 25 alongside 23 boards and six dimes.
Both squads shot an identical 47 percent from the floor. Globalport reigned supreme in the rebounding aspect, 61-43, but turnovers were their issue as they committee 24, which then led to 36 points for the Beermen.
The Beermen will look to build a streak against the NLEX Road Warriors on Sunday, August 27, 6:45 PM still at the Big Dome. The Batang Pier (2-3), meanwhile, will battle the TNT Katropa next Friday, September 1, 7:00 PM at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The Scores:
San Miguel 115 – McKines 35, Santos 30, Cabagnot 27, Lassiter 10, Espinas 8, Fajardo 4, Tubid 1, Ross 0, Rosser 0, Heruela 0, De Ocampo 0.
Globalport 112 – Romeo 26, Holloway 25, Pringle 24, Baracael 11, Anthony 10, Arana 7, Mamaril 4, Pennisi 3, Guinto 2, Cortez 0, Hubalde 0.
Quarterscores: 21-25, 45-57, 84-81, 115-112.
