MANILA – San Miguel Beermen came up with clutch baskets down the stretch to escape with a 98-94 win over NLEX Road Warriors in the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup yesterday at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Down 91-94 after a triple by Road Warriors’ Kenneth Ighalo, the Beermen leaned on free throws by June Mar Fajardo and a putback by Dezmine Wells to take a 95-94 edge with 23 seconds to go.
After missed baskets by Ilonggo Kiefer Ravena and Oluseyi Ashaolu of the Road Warriors, Chris Ross put the game away for the Beermen by draining three of his four free throws.
Wells finished with double-double 32 points and 14 rebounds while Alex Cabagnot and Fajardo added 20 and 16 markers, respectively.
The Beermen improved to 3-0 win-loss card. It maintained an unblemished slate despite the ejections of Terrence Romeo for head-butting Road Warriors’ guard Philip Paniamogan and Kelly Nabong for two technical fouls.
Ravena tallied 20 markers to lead the way for the Road Warriors, which suffered its first defeat in four games, while Ighalo and John Paul Erram contributed 12 markers, respectively.
Over at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City last night, TNT KaTropa grabbed the solo first place in the standings with a 125-120 victory over the Columbian Dyip.
Jayson Castro, KJ McDaniels, Jeth Troy Rosario, and Roger Pogoy came up with timely conversions as the KaTropa rises to 4-0. The Dyip slid down to 2-2.
In the other match, Blackwater Elite finally barged into the win column with a 107-98 win over NorthPort Batang Pier. Bobby Ray Parks Jr. tallied 21 points as the Elite rises to 1-2 win-loss slate, while the Batang Pier skidded to 1-3./PN
