Jericho Cruz and Don Trollano came through when needed the most as San Miguel repulsed Barangay GInebra, 95-92, to remain perfect in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup, Friday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Trollano finished with 15 points and eight rebounds while Cruz added eight points as the long-time teammates delivered key buckets down the stretch to help save the Beermen after the Kings rallied back from 18 points down.
Trollano scored five straight to push their lead to seven with 2:43 to go, before Cruz took it upon himself to strike the dagger by nailing a tough layup against Jamie Malonzo to make it a 95-91 lead with 44.8 seconds left to play.
“I just stayed composed. Alam naman natin na never say die ang Ginebra,” said Trollano, who went on to earn Best Player of the Game honors.
CJ Perez top-scored with a game-high 18 points and 10 assists for San Miguel, which stayed on top of the standings with a spotless 4-0 record.
June Mar Fajardo had his own double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds. Mo Tautua’a had 12 points and five rebounds while Terrence Romeo added 11.
“Good thing June Mar and Mo didn’t get their fifth foul. And though having four fouls in the first half, they continued to play defense,” said Gallent, obviously glad to see his two big men avert foul trouble.
San Miguel will try to make it five consecutive wins against Terrafirma on April 10, Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Japeth Aguilar, on the other hand, had 17 points to lead Ginebra, who fell to 3-2 as the crew failed to sustain momentum from their Manila Clasico win.
Maverick Ahanmisi had 16 points. Stanley Pringle had 15 points, Jamie Malonzo 14, while Christian Standhardinger supplied 14 and 17 with six assists.
Ginebra will try to bounce back this Sunday against the Dyip as well. Game time is at 6:15 p.m. also at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Scores:
San Miguel 95 – Perez 18, Trollano 15, Fajardo 14, Tautuaa 12, Romeo 11, Brondial 8, Cruz 8, Lassiter 6, Ross 3, Manuel 0, Enciso 0.
Ginebra 92 – Aguilar 17, Ahanmisi 16, Pringle 15, Malonzo 14, Standhardinger 14, Tenorio 8, Onwubere 8, David 0, Gumaru 0, Cu 0, Pinto 0.
Quarterscores: 33-18, 56-50, 82-66, 95-92.
