SMB hands Barako Bull its first defeat

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MANILA, Philippines – San Miguel Beer leaned on steady free-throw shooting in the closing seconds of the game to seal the deal, 116-113, and hand the Barako Bull its first defeat in the PBA Governors’ Cup on Wednesday.

June Mar Fajardo led the Beermen with 22 points, including the two free throws that virtually sealed their fourth straight win with two seconds remaining in the final period.

San Miguel Beer also got the same output from Arizona Reid, who also brought down eight rebounds aside from tallying a block.

It was a tough game between the two teams, which saw several lead exchanges throughout the match.

Barako was up by a mere four points after two quarters against San Miguel, 59-55.

Liam McMorrow then sparked a 13-7 run that jacked the Energy Cola’s advantage to 11 points, 75-64, midway the third.

But the Beermen regained their footing by retaliating with a 17-7 fight back that decimated the Energy’s lead to, 82-81.

In the fourth period, Barako was up, 108-107, with 1:21 to go. But costly fouls allowed Reid and Fajardo to score a total of four free throw shots with barely two seconds remaining in the game.

JC Intal sprang with a two-point basket for Barako but his effort proved too late.

McMorrow finished with 31 points for Barako, while Joseph Yeo added 25. The Energy Cola also got double digits from Intal, Chico Lanete and Rico Maierhofer.

Intal had 14 markers, while Lanete and Maierhofer scored 12 and 10.

San Miguel, however, got higher output from at least five Beermen. Aside getting double-digit scores from Fajardo and Reid, San Miguel also received 18 points from Marcio Lassiter, 13 from Ronald Tubid and 12 from Chris Ross.

The Beermen now has four wins against two defeats to occupy solo third place. Barako Bull remained on top with a 4-1 record.

Box scores:

San Miguel Beer 116 – Fajardo 22, Reid 22, Lassiter 18, Tubid 13, Ross 12, Cabagnot 11, Espinas 8, Reyes 4, Lutz 2, Omolon 2, Santos 2.

Barako Bull 113 – McMorrow 31, Yeo 25, Intal 14, Lanete 12, Maierhofer 10, Pascual 8, Garcia 6, Wilson 3, Lastimosa 2, Chua 2, Ababou 0.

Quarterscores: 30-33, 55-59, 87-86, 116-113

This story was republished with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.