San Miguel's Don Trollano in action. PBA Images
MANILA — San Miguel kept its winning streak alive by surviving Magnolia in a thriller, 94-92, in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup on Friday at the Ynares Center in Montalban.
The Beermen found the stops and key baskets that allowed them to regain the front row seat, after Magnolia installed its biggest lead of the game, 86-80, with under three minutes left on the clock.
Don Trollano came through with his biggest shots, a gutsy conversion from the extended arc and an and-one, to retake the lead for San Miguel, 91-88.
June Mar Fajardo's split from the foul line kept the door open for the Magnolia side, 92-88, but Paul Lee's four-point attempt for Magnolia unluckily bounced out of the rim, which could have knotted the game up.
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CJ Perez expanded SMB's cushion to six, 94-88, off charities with 22 seconds left, but that proved to be unsafe as the Magnolia side had one last hurrah, with Chris Koon converting a four-pointer to make it a two-point game at 94-92.
Perez could not replicate what he did on his last trip to the 15-foot line, missing both charities off a duty foul by Zav Lucero.
As Lee grabbed the rebound, he ran to the other side to try to steal the game, but the scrappy San Miguel defense was there, led by Marcio Lassiter.
Lassiter stopped the Hotshots guard, forcing him to pass to Jerom Lastimosa, who threw a Hail Mary, but it was way off — marking San Miguel's fourth win in a row in the all-Filipino tournament.
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Players and coaches from both ends were all smiles as they shook hands following the conclusion of the match.
Trollano was named Player of the Game after showing the way with 29 points on an 11-of-16 clip, to go with six rebounds, as Perez chipped in 20 points, four rebounds, and five steals.
"Nakita ko, open ako, eh. Nakita ko rin parang wala nang oras, kaya tinira ko na lang," said Trollano, discussing his pivotal four-pointer late in the game.
Fajardo, for his part, almost had a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds.
On the other hand, Magnolia absorbed its second loss in six games. Lucero finished with a massive double-double of 20 points and 14 rebounds, while Lastimosa and Koon had 17 and 16 points, respectively.
The Scores:
SAN MIGUEL 94 – Trollano 29, Perez 20, Fajardo 18, Tiongson 10, Lassiter 8, Cahilig 3, Cruz 2, Ross 2, Brondial 2, Tautuaa 0, Rosales 0
MAGNOLIA 92 – Lucero 20, Lastimosa 17, Koon 16, Sanagalang 15, Laput 5, Lee 5, Barroca 4, Alfaro 3, Gomez de Liano 3, Dela Rosa 2, Verano 2, Escoto 0
QUARTERS: 25-17, 51-40, 69-70, 94-92