In a game where both teams had their guns ablaze from rainbow country, it was former Energy forward Ronald Tubid who stole the show, scoring all but one of his 13 points powered by his three triples in the payoff period to turn the Beermen’s nine-point deficit into an 105-99 lead.
Arizona Reid also came to the rescue for, nailing the go-ahead basket with 30.8 seconds left on the clock to put San Miguel in the driver seat, 112-111 then created more separation with two freebies late in the game, and put the nail in the coffin by blocking Dylan Ababou’s potential game-tying trey in the final second.
Last season’s Governors Cup Best Import finished with 22 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. “I salute AZ because he is really a leader of the team,” said San Miguel Beer head coach Leo Austria, as the Beermen nailed its fourth straight victory after starting the conference with two straight losses.
“Credit to Ronald because he stepped up sa outside shooting, saka si Marcio (Lassiter) na rin. Limited kasi ang options namin sa ilalim because of their import,” Austria added. Lassiter added 18 points on a 3-of-5 shooting on threes, as Chris Ross and Alex Cabagnot combined for 23.
Reigning league MVP June Mar Fajardo was stymied in the game as he battled through foul trouble but he still wound up with 22 markers, 14 coming in the third quarter, although he only hauled down six rebounds against the towering presence of Energy reinforcement Liam McMorrow.
Fajardo’s foul situation forced Austria to stick with Gabby Espinas defending McMorrow for a large chunk of the fourth, as the Beermen gunners slowly heated up from behind the arc. “Alam ko sa simula pa lang, it’s gonna be a tough game because Barako Bull’s confidence is really high,” noted Austria.
“Barako Bull had nothing to lose but everything to gain and talagang yung confidence nila, mataas because of their import.” McMorrow paced Barako Bull with his huge double-double of 31 points and 25 rebounds, even as a former Beerman, guard Joseph Yeo, contributed 25 markers in the Energy’s first defeat of the conference.
Barako Bull, though, still rests at the top of the leaderboards with its 4-1 slate.
Watch San Miguel Beermen vs Barako Bull May 27 Governor's Cup 2015 Full Replay
[follow this link]PBA Game Play Match-up scores:
SAN MIGUEL BEER 116 – Fajardo 22, Reid 22, Lassiter 18, Tubid 13, Ross 12, Cabagnot 11, Espinas 8, Reyes 4, Lutz 2, Omolon 2, Santos 2.BARAKO BULL 113 – McMorrow 31, Yeo 25, Intal 14, Lanete 12, Maierhofer 10, Pascual 8, Garcia 6, Wilson 3, Lastimosa 2, Chua 2, Ababou 0.
Quarterscores: 30-33, 55-59, 87-86, 116-113.