Beermen Boost Top Four Bid with Gritty Win
San Miguel Beer secured a vital 120-111 win over Rain or Shine (ROS) in a high-stakes clash held at the Cagayan de Oro Convention Center, enhancing their chances for a twice-to-beat advantage in the upcoming PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals.
The Beermen weathered a late-game surge from the Elasto Painters, showcasing championship composure to notch their seventh win against just two losses. The victory solidified their hold on second place behind NLEX (8-2) in the standings and kept them firmly in contention for the top seed.
CJ Perez and Don Trollano Shine in Clutch
Leading the charge for San Miguel were CJ Perez and Don Trollano, who poured in 33 and 24 points, respectively. Perez played an all-around game, adding 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals despite committing 5 turnovers. Trollano also contributed 4 boards and 3 steals, while knocking down timely buckets when the game tightened in the fourth quarter.
The duo’s late-game heroics helped stave off a fiery comeback by Rain or Shine, who had trimmed a 25-point deficit to just a single point midway through the fourth.
Fourth Quarter Drama: ROS Comes Close
After trailing by as much as 25 points, Rain or Shine launched a furious rally in the final period. A drive by Adrian Nocum capped a major run, bringing the Elasto Painters to within 102-103 with 4:46 remaining. However, San Miguel regrouped quickly, executing key plays on both ends to halt the rally and eventually pull away.
Veteran center June Mar Fajardo chipped in 20 points and 9 rebounds, narrowly missing a double-double. Marcio Lassiter added 16 points, including a 2-of-3 showing from beyond the arc, while the rest of the roster provided balanced support.
Rain or Shine’s Top Four Hopes Take a Hit
With the loss, Rain or Shine fell to a 6-4 record, now tied with Converge for sixth place. Their Top Four aspirations are still alive, but they’ll need to defeat Barangay Ginebra on June 15 to close out at 7-4 and stay in the mix for a favorable playoff seed.
Despite the setback, ROS saw strong performances from Andrei Caracut (24 points), Adrian Nocum (22), and Jhonard Clarito (17), who valiantly led the team’s comeback attempt.
Remaining Games Crucial for Playoff Picture
San Miguel’s path to the top seed remains open, provided they win their final two games against Converge FiberXers and NorthPort Batang Pier. With momentum and depth on their side, the Beermen are peaking at the right time heading into the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Rain or Shine faces a make-or-break scenario. A win against Ginebra might still secure them a spot in the Top Four, but they’ll need help from other results as the elimination round nears its conclusion.
Box Scores:
San Miguel (120): Perez 33, Trollano 24, Fajardo 20, Lassiter 16, Tiongson 8, Cruz 6, Brondial 4, Ross 4, Cahilig 3, Tautuaa 2
Rain or Shine (111): Caracut 24, Nocum 22, Clarito 17, Datu 12, Santillan 10, Mamuyac 9, Tiongson 7, Porter 5, Asistio 5, Norwood 0
Quarter Scores: 30-25, 60-43, 93-78, 120-111