By Dugout Philippines
San Miguel banked on a clutch jumper by Chris Lutz to nose out a pesky NLEX squad, 79-76, in the lone PBA Saturday game in Tubod, Lanao Del Norte.
Lutz scored the go-ahead jumper with less than a minute left in the match defined by runs after another.
The Road Warriors led by as much as ten in the second quarter.
But the Beermen clawed back and took a four-point advantage, 51-47, in the third.
NLEX sparked another rally and reclaim the lead, 64-59, at the end of the period.
But Chris Ross and Arwind Santos initiated a San Miguel fightback to rebuild its lead, 75-70.
A 6-0 Road Warriors run followed, and they got the lead back, 76-75, with 3:03 left on the clock.
But Lutz scored from the baseline to give the Beermen the lead for good.
San Miguel, however, still had to buck off some more late scares as the team missed four of six free throws in the last 26.4 seconds of the game.
But the team showed defensive toughness in the end as NLEX was forced to missed shots that would have potentially forced overtime.
Santos led the Beermen with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and a block.
Box Scores:
San Miguel 79-Lassiter 22, Lutz 13, Ross 12, Santos 12, Fajardo 11, Tubid 8, Mercado 1 R. Pascual 0, Omolon 0, Semerad 0, Chua 0
NLEX 76-Cardona 19, Taulava 13, Ramos 11, Canaleta 10, J. Villanueva 8, W. Arboleda 7, Baloria 6, R. Villanueva 2, Camson 0. Borboran 0, Apinan 0
Quarterscores: 18-21, 42-40, 59-64, 79-76
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