MANILA: Fans numbering close to 13,000 — all of them braving the rains and the floods — got treated to something that has never happened before in the PBA.
San Miguel Beer and GlobalPort, squads belonging to opposite places in the Governors’ Cup standings, went through two overtimes before surviving separate foes to prop up their respective bids in the elimination round at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay on Sunday night.
The Beermen won the match the huge crowd wanted to see, 111-105, after Arizona Reid scored six points in the second extension, which were two more than the entire Ginebra output, as San Miguel won a second straight game and snapped the Gin Kings’ three-game winning run.
With the win, the Beermen rose to 4-1 in the standings and climbed into a share of second spot with idle Mahindra, just half-a-game behind league-leading TNT KaTropa, which has a 5-0 record after posting a 109-89 victory over Blackwater Elite on Saturday night.
“Considering that it has been raining very hard the past few days, I think today’s games gave the fans a special treat,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria, who appeared before reporters looking very exhausted, and relieved.
Who wouldn’t, as the game looked to be in the bag for the Beermen as early as the third period after they had raced to a 71-47 lead in the period’s dying minutes.
“I cannot say anything more about the players of both teams, they really did everything to win,” Austria said, also in obvious praise of the Gin Kings. “But my players also knew that this was a huge game for us, because we didn’t want to be left out in the race for the top four.”
Austria was referring to a very critical spot in the standings at the end of the single round eliminations, where those who finish in the top four gain twice-to-beat privileges in the first round of the playoffs.
At 4-2, the Gin Kings are still at No. 4, but just half-a-game ahead of idle Rain or Shine.
Reigning two-time MVP June Mar Fajardo scored just four points after the first three periods but tossed in seven in the fourth and six in the first extension, winding up with Player of the Game honors after also finishing with 17 rebounds.
San Miguel also had a nine-point lead entering the final 2:42 of the first extension before allowing the Kings to score nine straight points from there and forge a second overtime at 101-all.
Justin Brownlee paced the Kings with 38 points but was scoreless in the second extension. LA Tenorio had 17 and Joe Devance 16 before being helped out of the floor in the dying seconds for what appeared to be a left hamstring pull.
And while San Miguel worked extra hard to stay in the top four, the Batang Pier worked double time just to stay in the running for a berth in the playoffs.
Anthony Semerad capped a career game with a triple with under 15 seconds remaining that keyed a 126-123 victory by GlobalPort over Meralco in the first game.
It was just the first win in five games for the Batang Pier, who also bungled early control and muffed golden chances to put the Bolts away by having possession at the end of regulation and in the first overtime.
Mike Glover scattered 26 points and Terrence Romeo also had 24 as the Batang Pier dealt the Bolts their third loss in six games.
Both contests going two overtimes marked the first time in modern history that a twinbill had such a result.
Allen Durham had 55 points for Meralco, which wasn’t as sharp compared to the way it played the last time out.
Stanley Pringle spotted Semerad open and issued a long cross court pass for what turned out to be the game-winner.
“I was at the right place at the right time, I guess,” said Semerad, who went 6-for-8 from beyond the arc. Pringle finished with 15 points and Joseph Yeo was the fifth man in double digits with 11 for the Batang Pier.
San Miguel Beer and GlobalPort, squads belonging to opposite places in the Governors’ Cup standings, went through two overtimes before surviving separate foes to prop up their respective bids in the elimination round at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay on Sunday night.
The Beermen won the match the huge crowd wanted to see, 111-105, after Arizona Reid scored six points in the second extension, which were two more than the entire Ginebra output, as San Miguel won a second straight game and snapped the Gin Kings’ three-game winning run.
With the win, the Beermen rose to 4-1 in the standings and climbed into a share of second spot with idle Mahindra, just half-a-game behind league-leading TNT KaTropa, which has a 5-0 record after posting a 109-89 victory over Blackwater Elite on Saturday night.
“Considering that it has been raining very hard the past few days, I think today’s games gave the fans a special treat,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria, who appeared before reporters looking very exhausted, and relieved.
Who wouldn’t, as the game looked to be in the bag for the Beermen as early as the third period after they had raced to a 71-47 lead in the period’s dying minutes.
“I cannot say anything more about the players of both teams, they really did everything to win,” Austria said, also in obvious praise of the Gin Kings. “But my players also knew that this was a huge game for us, because we didn’t want to be left out in the race for the top four.”
Austria was referring to a very critical spot in the standings at the end of the single round eliminations, where those who finish in the top four gain twice-to-beat privileges in the first round of the playoffs.
At 4-2, the Gin Kings are still at No. 4, but just half-a-game ahead of idle Rain or Shine.
Reigning two-time MVP June Mar Fajardo scored just four points after the first three periods but tossed in seven in the fourth and six in the first extension, winding up with Player of the Game honors after also finishing with 17 rebounds.
San Miguel also had a nine-point lead entering the final 2:42 of the first extension before allowing the Kings to score nine straight points from there and forge a second overtime at 101-all.
Justin Brownlee paced the Kings with 38 points but was scoreless in the second extension. LA Tenorio had 17 and Joe Devance 16 before being helped out of the floor in the dying seconds for what appeared to be a left hamstring pull.
And while San Miguel worked extra hard to stay in the top four, the Batang Pier worked double time just to stay in the running for a berth in the playoffs.
Anthony Semerad capped a career game with a triple with under 15 seconds remaining that keyed a 126-123 victory by GlobalPort over Meralco in the first game.
It was just the first win in five games for the Batang Pier, who also bungled early control and muffed golden chances to put the Bolts away by having possession at the end of regulation and in the first overtime.
Mike Glover scattered 26 points and Terrence Romeo also had 24 as the Batang Pier dealt the Bolts their third loss in six games.
Both contests going two overtimes marked the first time in modern history that a twinbill had such a result.
Allen Durham had 55 points for Meralco, which wasn’t as sharp compared to the way it played the last time out.
Stanley Pringle spotted Semerad open and issued a long cross court pass for what turned out to be the game-winner.
“I was at the right place at the right time, I guess,” said Semerad, who went 6-for-8 from beyond the arc. Pringle finished with 15 points and Joseph Yeo was the fifth man in double digits with 11 for the Batang Pier.
