SAN Miguel Beer stamped its championship pedigree in crunch time and escaped with a gutsy 116-113 win over Converge to reclaim grip of solo eighth spot in the PBA Commissioner's Cup on Friday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.
The Beermen relinquished a massive 19-point lead in the second half but had enough gas in the tank to get away from the FiberXers' spirited comeback for the much-needed victory after two costly stumbles against Meralco and NorthPort.
SMB got a shot in the arm from import Malik Pope, who finally made a good impression after a paltry showing in his first two games, as the Beermen climbed to 5-6 above Magnolia and NLEX, with similar 4-6 slates.
Pope, who bled for a combined 18 points in the first two games, including an unacceptable four-point output in SMB's 105-104 defeat to NorthPort, scattered 22 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks.
His crucial jumper gave the Beermen a 17-point lead in the last seven minutes before Converge's massive uprising.
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Juami Tiongson also impressed with 22 points on six treys, eight-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo collared 19 points and 14 rebounds while Don Trollano, CJ Perez and Marcio Lassiter added 17, 11 and 10 points, respectively.
"This is the first time that we had a good start since our game against Magnolia. We dictated the tempo of the game but in the end as what I've said, it's not only the start but it's the finish. Fortunately, we're able to win," said coach Leo Austria, now looking forward for another win in their closing assignment.
Thanks to a 29-16 start, the Beermen went on cruise control until the last 1:36 mark when the FiberXers knocked on their doorsteps at 113-114 following Cheick Diallo's short heave.
Diallo's bucket capped a 22-6 Converge rally to stay in the hunt from a deficit as big as 91-108 in the 7:26 mark but could not convert from there with Fajardo and Perez extending SMB's lead.
Multiple errors down the stretch and back-to-back three-point misses by Stockton sealed SMB's win.
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Diallo fired 28 points and collared 11 rebounds plus two assists and a block while Jordan Heading drained two four-point shots and four triples for 25 points but to no avail for Converge that saw its two-game run end to wrap up its elims campaign at 8-4.
Stockton added 19 points while top draft pick Justine Baltazar scooped 13 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in his first duel with Fajardo as Converge now depends on the results of other teams' remaining games to determine its twice-to-beat aspirations. (JBU)
The scores:
San Miguel 116 - Tiongson 22, Pope 22, Fajardo 19, Trollano 17, Perez 11, Lassiter 10, Tautuaa 6, Cruz 6, Cahilig 3, Ross 0..
Converge 113 - Diallo 28, Heading 25, Stockton 19, Baltazar 13, Racal 8, Andrade 6, Winston 5, Delos Santos 4, Santos 3, Javillonar 2, Ambohot 0, Cabagno 0.
Quarterscores: 29-16, 65-48, 99-81, 116-113
