SMB trips NLEX, boosts Final 4 bid

MANILA, Philippines - San Miguel Beer survived NLEX’s determined stand and Junmar Fajardo’s personal season-low of only nine points, squeezing out an 88-80 win in overtime to boost its bid for an outright Final Four entry in the Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome Wednesday night.

With Fajardo saddled by early fouls and fouling out with 46.6 seconds left in regulation, Yancy de Ocampo ably filled the void, delivering a personal three-season high of 17 points as the Beermen pulled off the crucial win and regained the solo lead with an 8-1 win-loss record.

De Ocampo, averaging a measly 1.3 points in the tourney, took over the game in overtime, drawing Asi Taulava’s sixth and final foul and making the biggest baskets as the Beermen foiled NLEX’s upset bid.

Ronald Tubid, Alex Cabagnot and Arwind Santos made significant contributions as San Miguel dealt NLEX a fifth loss against four wins.

In the first game, Globalport found its 24-point lead vanish in the last 10 minutes of play before Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle went on the counterattack, outlasting Jimmy Alapag in a fierce shootout to fend off Meralco, 108-104, and close in on the leaders.

Globalport squandered its big lead on Meralco’s fiery chase in a stretch bridging the last two quarters, but Romeo and Pringle dropped lethal bombs at the finish to secure the win that all but assured Batang Pier a twice-to-beat advantage in stage one of the quarterfinals.

Meralco, meanwhile, virtually moved out of the playoff race with a pitiful 1-9 slate.

Mathematically, the Batang Pier are still in the running for the Top Two or an outright Final Four entry.

With a third straight victory, the Batang Pier improved to 6-3 at fourth place, just a half game behind third running Rain or Shine (6-2).

Globalport coach Pido Jarencio, however, would be happy to make the Top Six.

“We have achieved our objective to be at least at third to fifth. Going to the playoffs, we need a strong finish in the elims,” said Jarencio, their last two games – against Mahindra and Talk n Text.

Romeo scattered 33 points, including two three-pointers and two charities in the last two minutes.