CAGAYAN DE ORO - Even as he struggled in his third game in the local pro league, Chris McCullough found a way to lift San Miguel Beer in the end.
McCullough came through at money time, delivering the buckets, a string of blocks and the game's biggest dish-off as the Beermen nipped the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 89-87, in a well-fought match in the last Petron Blaze Saturday Special in the PBA Commissioner's Cup elims.
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Firing blanks most of the way, the former Brooklyn Net drained a big trey to make it 87-82, then blocked a shot in the next play before himself setting up June Mar Fajardo for a two-handed jam that rocked the Xavier U Gym here.
McCullough swatted away more ROS shots from there and the Beermen went on to overcome a not-so-good game, nailing the crucial win that assured them of a ticket to the quarterfinals.
In an up-and-down outing, McCullough had a poor decision in the closing seconds, missing a shot that he should've not taken at all.
It opened an opportunity for the E-Painters to salvage the game, but Beau Belga missed a three-point attempt at the buzzer.
Thus, the E-Painters went down to seventh place at 5-6 while the Beermen climbed up to joint fifth with the Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots at 5-5.
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The Beermen now have a chance to finish in the Top Six and get a spot in the pair of best-of-three quarterfinals series.
After exploding for 47 points then 37 markers, McCullough struggled with an 8-of-24 clip for only 24 points. He also bled from the stripe, making only six of 14 tries.
But he still emerged a winner in the end, keeping his unbeaten run in the PBA.
Fajardo fired 23 points and added 15 rebounds while Terrence Romeo contributed 13 markers, including 11 with 3-of-3 three-pointers in the first half.
It was a tight game where no team led by more than eight.
The E-Painters got off to a strong start, opening up with a 16-8 run, but the Beermen came alive upon Romeo's entry and took the lead at the half at 47-44.(SB)
The scores:
SAN MIGUEL 89 - McCullough 24, Fajardo 23, Romeo 13, Ross 7, Santos 7, Cabagnot 6, Pessumal 3, Lassiter 3, Nabong 3, Ganuelas-Rosser 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 87 - Mocon 20, Montgomery 18, Nambatac 11, Borboran 9, Daquioag 7, Ponferada 5, Belga 5, Norwood 4, Onwubere 3, Torres 3, Rosales 2.
