MANILA – San Miguel Beermen survived an endgame flurry by Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings for a 102-99 win in the 2022-2023 PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Beermen were ahead at 98-87 after a dunk by Cameron Clark but the Gin Kings rode on three-pointers by Nard John Pinto and inside hits by Earl Scottie Thompson to cut the deficit to 99-100.
Clark scored on a layup to give the Beermen a 102-99 lead with nine seconds left. Ginebra had a chance to tie the score but Pinto missed on a three-pointer before he turned the ball over on the rebound.
Clark finished with double-double 35 points and 10 rebounds, while Jaymar Perez added 20 markers. The Beermen moved to a share of no.1 spot in the standings with 7-1 slate.
June Mar Fajardo posted double-double 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Vic Manuel chipped in 10 markers off the bench for the streaking San Miguel Beer.
Christian Standhardinger had 29 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Justin Brownlee added 21 points, 10 boards and nine assists, while Jeremiah Gray and Thompson had 14 and 13 as the Gin Kings dropped to 3-2.
In the first game, TNT Tropang Giga survived a fourth quarter uprising by sister team Meralco Bolts to score a 111-104 win. The Tropang Giga now has 7-1 win-loss slate, while the Bolts dropped to 3-3.
After leading by as much as 22 points in the third quarter, the Tropang Giga suddenly saw their advantage cut to as low as 100-107 by a conversion by KJ McDaniels.
The Tropang Giga, however, got their much-needed separation behind free throw mades by Glenn Khobuntin, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Jayson Castro in the final minute of the game.
Hollis-Jefferson had a near triple-double 34 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, Mikey Williams added 25 markers, while Calvin Oftana and Castro had 19 and 16 points, respectively, for the Tropang Giga./PN
BOX SCORE:
SAN MIGUEL 102 – Clark 35, Perez 20, Fajardo 12, Manuel 10, Lassiter 8, Enciso 6, Cruz 5, Brondial 4, Ross 2, Tautuaa 0.
GINEBRA 99 – Standhardinger 29, Brownlee 21, Gray 14, Thompson 13, Malonzo 9, Pringle 6, Pinto 6, Mariano 1, Tenorio 0.
Quarterscores: 24-21, 50-47, 82-72, 102-99.
