Beermen stretch win streak to 5

MANILA, Philippines — San Miguel Beer knew it needed all hands on deck to overcome a tough Terrafirma side.

Top guns June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez delivered their usual numbers. But it was backup big man Mo Tautuaa who really rose to the occasion and served as the difference maker against the Dyip.

Tautuaa banged in 17 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to spearhead the unbeaten Beermen to a hard-earned 113-110 win over their upset-conscious opponents in the PBA Philippine Cup yesterday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Fil-Tongan did most damage from beyond the arc, knocking down two of his three long bombs in the fourth to help SMB get the better of Terrafirma in a tight finish and pick up their fifth straight victory. Unsuccessful in their bid to upset San Miguel after their 91-85 reversal of Ginebra, the Dyip fell to 4-4.

“Nice one, Mo, finally,” San Miguel Beer coach Jorge Gallent shouted as he and Best Player Tautuaa headed back to the locker room after the post-game presscon.

Tautuaa turned in his highest score of Season 48 while also adding eight rebounds and four assists to backstop Perez’ 25 markers and Fajardo’s 20-17-6 statline. Terrence Romeo chipped in 16 for the cause.

But more than his offensive contribution, Tautuaa’s defensive work against Dyip shooter Juami Tiongson was equally valuable.

“Mo did a great job switching to Juami and defended him well from the three-point area,” said Gallent.

Tiongson still finished with 24 but went silent in the last four minutes. It was Isaac Go who filled in, rifling in a career-high 21 spiked by seven three-pointers.

The Dyip forced the Beermen to a catchup role in the first half, leading by as many as 12 in the early goings.

The defending champs then used a 33-21 salvo in the third to wrest control then outlasted their foes in a shootout heading home to remain unscathed.

“Playing for San Miguel, you always kinda have a target on your back. You’re always going to get everyone’s best game. And that’s what we saw tonight. They’re (Dyip) shooting, playing well. That’s a good team, they got what they needed to win and their record shows that,” said Tautuaa of their pesky prey.