MANILA – Alex Cabagnot scored on a go-ahead basket as San Miguel Beermen cruised to a come-from-behind 72-71 victory over Magnolia Hotshots in a do-or-die Game 7 of the 2019 Honda PBA Philippine Cup finals last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Trailing 70-71 after a basket by Hotshots’ Ian Sangalang at the two-minute mark, Cabagnot surged the Beermen ahead with a tough jumper at 57 seconds mark before toughening its defense down the stretch to escape with the win.
Cabagnot finished the match with 18 points, three rebounds and three assists.
The Beermen captured its fifth consecutive All-Filipino Conference championship and 27th PBA title overall.
Finals MVP June Mar Fajardo achieved PBA records on rebounds with 31 to go along with 17 markers while Arwind Santos also delivered double-double 17 points and 11 rebounds.
The Beermen opened the match with seven straight points from Fajardo and Santos but the Hotshots quickly rallied back to come to within 16-18 before taking a 24-20 edge on hits from Paul Lee and Jiovani Jalalon.
Magnolia dominated the second quarter with its tight defense limiting the SMB to just five points in the quarter before pulling away for a 38-25 halftime edge on baskets from Sangalang.
The Hotshots went on to build its largest lead at 43-26 early in the third but the Beermen was quick to respond behind baskets from Fajardo and Santos to cut the deficit to 50-58.
The Beermen continued its run in the fourth on baskets from Cabagnot, Ross, Fajardo and Santos to take a 62-61 lead. It was a seesaw battle for both squads since then until the Hotshots led for the last time at 71-70 on an inside hit from Sangalang.
For the Hotshots, Sangalang finished with 18 points while Lee and Rafael Reavis contributed 11 markers apiece.
BOX SCORE
SAN MIGUEL 72 – Cabagnot 18, Fajardo 17, Santos 17, Ross 7, Lassiter 5, Standhardinger 4, Romeo 4, Ganuelas-Rosser 0, Pessumal 0.
MAGNOLIA 71 – Sangalang 18, Reavis 11, Lee 11, Jalalon 8, Barroca 7, Ramos 6, Melton 5, Dela Rosa 3, Brondial 2, Herndon 0.
Quarterscores: 24-20, 38-25, 58-50, 72-71./PN
