The San Miguel Beermen kept the Terrafirma Dyip from taking a good outside shot in the dying seconds and won a close game, 113-110, on Wednesday in the 48th Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
SMB’s stingy defense of the three-point area kept Isaac Go from taking a final three-point shot for Dyip, allowing the Beermen to keep the solo lead and escape with their fifth straight victory.
Mo Tautuaa unloaded 17 of his 24 points in the final period, with his layup in the last 15 seconds finalizing the count.
CJ Perez went on to finish with a game-high 25 points for the Beermen, who went through 12 lead changes with the Dyip.
“From the start of the game, the players were relaxed. And I was scared for that because the players thought Terrafirma was not there,” said Beermen coach Jorge Gallent.
“Terrafirma is not a pushover team anymore. It’s a fighting team,” added Gallent.
Juami Tiongson struck with 24 points for Dyip, who fell to fourth with their 4-2 slate.
Perez knocked in 11 points in the final canto, keeping the Beermen ahead with his two charities in the last 7:31, 92-89.
Tiongson hit 10 points in the last 12 minutes for the Dyip, and forced a 100-all tie in the last 4:09 with his floater.
Go shot 21 points with Javi Gomez de Liano as he kept the Dyip within range, 110-111, in the remaining 42 seconds.
The Scores:
SAN MIGUEL 113 – Perez 25, Tauatua 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