MANILA – San Miguel Beermen made baskets when it matter the most to escape with a 127-125 double overtime win over TNT KaTropa in Game 2 of the 2019 Honda PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After losing a first half lead of as high as 17 points, the Beermen gained control of the game late in the second overtime with free throws from June Mar Fajardo and a fast break layup by Chris Ross for a 126-122 edge with 16 seconds left.
The KaTropa cut the deficit to 125-126 with a three-pointer by Jayson Castro but a free throw by Beermen’s Chris McCullough made it a 127-125 count before Castro missed his two three-point tries at the buzzer.
McCullough finished the match with 32 points, 22 rebounds and seven assists.
Terrence Romeo drilled six triples to end up with 29 markers. The Beermen tied the series at 1-1.
Ross also waxed hot from three-point area in the opening half to tally 25 points, while Alex Cabagnot and Fajardo contributed 19 and 12 markers, respectively.
The Beermen blazed from the three-point area in the opening half with Ross, Romeo and Cabagnot nailing outside hits to build a 56-39 advantage after a dunk by McCullough.
It maintained the double-digit edge in the third period and was still on top 89-80 early in the fourth before the KaTropa mounted a huge run to take a 105-101 lead. A three-pointer by Romeo, however, forced an overtime.
In the extension period, the KaTropa were holding to a 114-111 edge after a triple by Jeth Troy Rosario but they missed potential game-tying free throws before the Beermen forced another OT on Cabagnot’s layup.
The KaTropa got the edge anew early in the second extension at 119-116 on an inside hit by Celedonio Trollano and a triple by Rosario but shots from McCullough and Fajardo and a free throw by Arwind Santos gave the Beermen a 122-121 edge.
Rosario finished the match with career-high 34 points, including eight triples, while Terrence Jones and Castro contributed 28 and 27 markers, respectively, for the KaTropa./PN
