SAN Miguel Beer avenged its 112-108 loss in overtime to NLEX in their initial match, striking back with a 119-114 win that boosted its playoff drive in the PBA Governors' Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium Wednesday night.
SMB brought in a new import in Sheldon Mac in lieu of Jordam Adams but the locals carried much of the fight and got the job done as the Beermen nailed win No. 4 against two losses in Group B play.
The Beermen pulled even with the Barangay Ginebra Kings at second, behind the pacesetting Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 5-1.
There's Marcio Lassiter scoring 17 points, including four three-pointers to surge past Allan Caidic (1,242) at second overall in most triples made at 1,243 behind Jimmy Alapag's 1,250.
Lassiter had timely three-point conversions, helping the Beermen back from an eight-point deficit late in the third before outwitting and outplaying the Road Warriors heading home.
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"Coming into the game, my expectation is to win. But thanks to my teammates they kept finding me, and getting to the elite list feels amazing," said Lassiter.
"But the most important thing is to win, and it's a great win for us tonight," he added.
CJ Perez led the scoring parade with 24 points while June Mar Fajardo tallied 17 markers and nine boards as the Beermen beat out the Road Warriors in a fierce clash and sent NLEX to joint fourth with the Blackwater Bossing at 3-4.
Mac, a former Washington Wizard, marked his PBA debut with 16 points, one rebound and one assist against three turnovers in 26:41 of playing time.
Don Trollano also finished with 16 points as Terrence Romeo and Jericho Cruz contributed 13 and 10, respectively.
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SMB coach Jorge Gallent rued defensive lapses in their first-half struggle.
"In the first half, we're helping a lot, we're overhelping that's why they (the Road Warriors) were getting open shots. Some shots were challenged and some were not. But there's not much (mistake) in the second half," said Gallent.
From a two-point edge at 111-109, the Beermen uncorked a 6-3 exchange and went on to pull through, negating Robert Bolick's 24-point and 15-assist sizzler for NLEX. (SB)
