Jay Washington scored 25 points and Olsen Racela, the oldest player in the league, made his 14-minute stint matter as he presided upon a dizzying San Miguel fightback that had the Beermen improving to 7-1 overall.

The loss was the third in six games for the Llamados, who looked like they were headed for a breeze with a 61-43 lead in the third quarter only to see their offensive machine conk out at the most important time.

Racela scored five points and had three steals – all of them clutch – as San Miguel rose from the grave to not only spoil the debut of new Derby Ace import Cliff Brown, but also deal the Llamados their bitterest loss of the tournament.

“For one, I have to give credit to our guys off the bench, especially Olsen (Racela) who provided the smarts for the team when we were down,” San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen said.

Brown, who came in for Lorenzo Wade, scored 15 points and cleared 14 boards and James Yap had 20 to pace the Llamados, who were held scoreless for the final two minutes after a Yap triple had shoved Derby Ace to within 72-74.

“It’s good to be winning right now, but basically, it’s what we do at the end of the season where we will be judged,” added Tanquingcen.

After trailing by that much, there was no stopping the Beermen once they got going as almost everyone picked up their games, including Gabriel Freeman, who was held down to five points and three rebounds in the first three periods.

Washington’s total was his personal season-high, and while Freeman’s were not really that impressive, the six points and five rebounds he had in the fourth quarter helped San Miguel a great deal. He finished with 11 markers and eight rebounds.

Arwind Santos had a triple with 4:25 remaining which ushered the Beermen to a 70-67 lead and Derby Ace aided its downfall by missing a bunch of free throws, four of them by Yap and two by Brown all happening inside the final four minutes.

Alex Cabagnot was actually the finisher that San Miguel missed in the first three quarters, as the 6-foot guard scored eight of his 10 points in the stretch – all of them in a string – that had the Beermen taking a 78-72 lead with 78 left.

Earlier, Barako Coffee snapped out of a six-week, six-game stupor and brought down heavyweight Alaska, 106-98, behind Sammy Monroe.

Monroe, who needs to prove himself all over again to keep his spot in the team, scattered 30 points and had 14 rebounds as the Coffee Masters got out of the cellar with their second win in eight games.

Barako Coffee has not won a game since the March 21 inaugurals, when it nipped Sta. Lucia, 97-94, and all talk had Monroe on the way out, something which coach Junel Baculi denied ever thinking but told the media before the All-Star break.

“There were rumors, and I told him they weren’t true,” Baculi, seated beside Monroe in the post-game interview, told reporters. “His girlfriend was supposed to come (to the Philippines), but after he heard that, advised her to stay (in the United States).”

Baculi and his staff had a meeting with management before and during the All-Star break in Puerto Princesa to evaluate the performance of Monroe, who has played solidly in his stint here but has gotten very little local help.

Sunday night was a lot different, as three locals finished with twin digit scores.

“I felt like the whole team was confident, like we had the winning attitude,” Monroe said. “I see progress, I feel the team can keep winning with a lot of work.”