PBA: San Miguel keeps semis bid alive, overcomes Ginebra

MANILA — San Miguel tore down a 17-point deficit to eventually overcome Ginebra, 108-102, in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup quarterfinals on Friday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

The win keeps SMB in the hunt for a semifinals spot.

The Beermen outperformed their 41-point output in the first half, firing a whopping 46 points during the third frame while limiting the misfiring Gin Kings to 18 markers, to change their fate and seize control of a game that initially appeared to be Ginebra’s to take.

They finally sat on the driver’s seat at the 64-61 mark on a CJ Perez trey, before building an 87-73 cushion heading into the payoff period.

When it was Ginebra’s turn to comeback, the Gin Kings erased that fourth quarter lead by the Beermen, pulling within three, 103-100, on a Nards Pinto triple with 2:12 on the clock.

Ginebra import Jordan Murphy missed two crucial free throws with 1:09 ticks, although Scottie Thompson made up for it by completing his trip on the foul line to put his team again within three, 105-101, 25.9 seconds left.

George King afterwards comfortably put SMB by five, 107-102, on two free throws made after a foul was called on Thompson — to which coach Tim Cone and company contested, insisting King had committed a traveling violation on the same play.

King finished with 35 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists, while Chris Ross delivered 20 points, six rebounds, and nine assists in a match where he had a verbal spat with Ginebra deputy Olsen Racela.

Perez had 14 markers, while nine-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo took care of the boards with 11 rebounds to go with eight points.

Meanwhile, Ginebra now sees its 2-0 series lead gone after the heartbreak. Thompson led five Ginebra players in double digit scoring with 27 points and 11 rebounds, while Murphy registered 16 points and 22 rebounds.

SAN MIGUEL 108 – King 35, Ross 20, Perez 14, Trollano 11, Fajardo 8, Lassiter 7, Cruz 7, Ahanmisi 6, Brondial 0

GINEBRA 102 – Thompson 27, Murphy 16, Rosario 15, Go 13, Cu 11, Abarrientos 7, Pinto 4, Gray 4, Holt 3, J.Aguilar 2, Torres 0, Estil 0

QUARTERS: 26-26, 41-55, 87-73, 108-102