And the defense of the Third Conference Title stays
alive.
Championship
know-how bespoke of San Miguel Beermen’s ascendency in clutch time as they
squeaked past NLEX Road Warriors, 114-110, Friday night at the Smart Araneta
Coliseum to march on to the Semis of the PBA Governor’s Cup.
Elijah
Millsap, who just served his second game duty this conference, salvaged the
Beermen from nearly blowing a 17-point edge, sizzling for 39 points and 11 rebounds
to fend off the Road Warriors from forcing a sudden death match.
Millsap
found himself in a vigorous battle against NLEX import Henry Walker, with the
latter winning the head-to head match up after scorching for 45 markers and 17
boards.
NLEX
kept within striking distance until the last two minutes of the game before
Marcio Lassiter launched and hit a rainbow bomb from the left corner to give
SMB an eight point cushion, 110-102, with over a minute remaining.
Jonas
Villanueva countered the shot with a three of his own, but the meager time left
averted the Road Warriors from mounting a late comeback and rescuing their
campaign this season.
Lassiter
finished with 14 points, while JuneMar Fajardo added 17 points and collared 13
rebounds.
SMB
enters the Semis for the fourth consecutive time and will face the winner of
the Ginebra-Alaska Quarterfinal clash on Monday.
The scores:
SMB 114 – Millsap
39, Fajardo 17, Lassiter 14, Cabagnot 14, Santos 11, Espinas 7, Tubid 6, Ross
4, De Ocampo 2
NLEX 110 – Walker
45, Villanueva J. 17, Lanete 13, Taulava 13, Anthony 11, Villanueva E. 6,
Khobuntin 3, Alas 2, Baracael 0, Monfort 0
Quarterscores:
24-23, 63-48, 86-82, 114-110
Follow him on Twitter: @patricksutare
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