Manila: San Miguel Beer leaned on its defensive prowess in the closing moments to fend off a tenacious challenge from Terrafirma, clinching a 109-104 victory in the PBA Governors Cup at Ynares Center in Antipolo.
According to Philippines News Agency, George King was instrumental in the Beermen's triumph, leading all scorers with 37 points and 14 rebounds. King's crucial four consecutive points in the final stretch secured the lead for San Miguel, while his and CJ Perez's pivotal steals were vital in maintaining the edge. This victory propels SMB to a 2-0 record, while Terrafirma suffers its third consecutive loss, now standing at 1-3 in Group A.
Peter Martin, stepping in for head coach Leo Austria, who was unavailable for the second consecutive game, emphasized the importance of defense in securing the win. He also acknowledged the resilience of Terrafirma, which battled back from a 22-point deficit in the third quarter. Martin admitted, "They outhustled us, they outplayed us, they outcoached us. The coaching staff of the other side was better than me today."
Despite Juami Tiongson's fifth three-pointer propelling Terrafirma ahead, 104-101, with just over a minute remaining, San Miguel's defense held firm. Perez's free throw and a crucial interception in the final seconds ensured Terrafirma could not capitalize, sealing the victory with free throws from Perez and Don Trollano.
George King reflected on the narrow victory, acknowledging the fortunate turn of events that favored San Miguel's defense at a critical moment. Meanwhile, Terrafirma's Justin Strings led with 28 points and 12 rebounds, supported by Tiongson's 27 points and Maverick Ahanmisi's 20.
In a related development, Barangay Ginebra will face challenges in its upcoming game at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City due to the absence of key players Justin Brownlee and Scottie Thompson, both sidelined with injuries. Coach Tim Cone will rely on Riley Grigsby in their match against Phoenix Super LPG.
The scores from the first game were as follows:
SMB 109 - Kings 37, Perez 22, Trollano 17, Ahanmisi 9, Brondial 8, Tautuaa 6, Cruz 6, Fajardo 2, Hernandez 2, Cahilig 0, Ross 0.
TERRAFIRMA 104 - Strings 28, Tiongson 27, Ahanmisi 20, Paraiso 10, Chiu 9, Bravo 8, Mariano 2, Umali 0, Catapusan 0, Eriobu 0.
