With Marcus Douthit standing big at the middle, maybe few teams actually can.

Douthit scored five of Smart-Gilas’ seven points in overtime, grabbed a total of 19 rebounds and once more was the frightening presence at the middle as the Nationals won their second game in a row, beating erstwhile undefeated Alaska 91-89 in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Friday night at the Araneta Colizeum.

The man who debuted with 26 rebounds against Talk ‘N Text on Feb. 25 shot 10-of-20 from the field for 23 points and converted, surprisingly, three of his final four attempts shots at the free-throw line in 47 extended minutes as Smart-Gilas, appearing as a guest team and taking the spot of Barako Bull, claimed a piece of the lead with idle Rain or Shine.

“We made two big steps in our goal to make the playoffs,” said national coach Rajko Toroman. “Some people say that we will not win 50 percent of our games in this conference but two wins against respected teams is a big step.”

“We deserve to win. You saw that Alaska is in good shape, but we played good defense throughout the game because we respect what they (Aces) are doing.”

The Nationals actually held the Aces to 1-of-7 shooting before Cyrus Baguio hit a triple that hardly mattered in overtime, a statistic brought obviously by the clamping defense Smart-Gilas applied.

Chris Tiu added 17 points, nine coming in a 22-5 run in the third quarter when the Nationals fought back from a 48-41 deficit to take a 63-53 lead going into the final quarter.

Overtime ended at 84-84 after LA Tenorio, hero in Alaska’s 95-94 win over Ginebra last Sunday, outmaneuvered Douthit and Marcio Lassiter for what looked like a simple layup with 2.4 seconds in regulation.

That shot should have pumped up the Aces going into the extra period.

Unfortunately, it only exposed how solid the Nationals could be when their backs are against wall.

Smart-Gilas scored the first six points in overtime and that was just about it for Alaska. When Tony De La Cruz hit the Aces first points on a jumper, there were 1:47 left to play. Douthit then split his charities with 15.4 seconds.

Tenorio led the Aces with 22 points and import LD Williams had 17 rebounds, 14 points and six assists. Sonny Thoss nearly recorded a triple-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.

San Miguel Beer finally notched its first win earlier in the day, banking on a game-wining shot from a player it has decided to let go.

Import Ira Brown converted on a follow-up shot to beat the final buzzer, lifting the new-look Beermen to a nail-biting 90-89 win over the skidding Meralco Bolts.

The outgoing import was at the right place at the time when San Miguel flirted with defeat, knocking in the basket that saved the Beermen from a second straight loss in this short tournament where every win counts.

“Breaks lang talaga ‘yung panalo namin,” said SMB coach Ato Agustin.

“May halong swerte.”

It was a wild climax to a game where the focus was supposed to be on the Beermen’s three new players – Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Noy Baclao and Rey Guevarra – the franchise acquired from Air21 in exchange for experienced guys in Danny Seigle, Dondon Hontiveros, Dorian Pena and Paul Artadi early this week.

San Miguel rallied from an 89-84 deficit with 2:43 left to play, and won it despite a final possession that didn’t go exactly the way it planned.

Executing the play after calling for time-out in the final 24 seconds, Jay Washington first drove hard to the basket but lost the ball.

Arwind Santos recovered it but similarly lost possession to Sol Mercado, who in turn committed a passing error intended for Reynel Hugnatan.

Washington got hold of the leather again and once more darted his way to the basket hoping to fish for a foul, but didn’t. His attempt rimmed out but was able to tap the ball, but again missed. Santos was there to put it back but the ball still misfired before Brown put an end to the gripping chain of events with a converted basket as time expired.

The Beermen celebrated as if it was a knockout match for the last playoff berth. Perhaps the only one cheerless at this time is Brown himself.

He will no longer be the import for the Beermen once the franchise battles Alaska on Wednesday. That role now belongs to David Young, a player Agustin said plays the No. 2 (off-guard) and No. 3 (shooting forward) spots and a veteran of the Chinese league.

“Ganun talaga eh,” said Agustin. “Kakausapin ko na lang mamaya (si Brown). Maiintindihan naman niya ‘yun.”

So, in his final game this conference, Brown scored 18 points and pulled down 10 rebounds

It was the third straight loss by the Bolts, who have decided, too, to replace import Anthony Danridge with Chamberlain Oguchi, an NBA developmental league veteran who played for the Maine Red Claws.

Oguchi arrived in Manila Thursday night.