NorthPort refuses to fold, forces Game 5 with win over Ginebra
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SMB snaps two-game slide, gets crucial win against rival Magnolia
Defending champion San Miguel Beermen ended a two-game skid to get the crucial win against last year’s runner-up Magnolia Hotshots, 85-78, to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot in their PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup match-up last night, January 12, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
CJ Perez put up 11 points in the pay-off period to have a total of 23 to help the Beermen get the important victory. He also had 10 assists, six rebounds, and four steals to get the Player of the Game honors.
SMB import Jabari Narcis tallied 18 markers and grabbed 23 boards, while June Mar Fajardo produced 13 points on top of 14 rebounds, and six assists to back-up Perez.
Juami Tiongson and Jericho Cruz also put up double-digit numbers with 13 and 10, respectively.
Photo Courtesy: PBA
"We considered this game as most crucial for us as Magnolia is one our rivals for the Top 8. A loss will slide us to the Bottom 5 but a win will get us to the Top 8," said Beermen head coach Leo Austria.
With the win, San Miguel improved its record to 4-4, ahead of NLEX and Phoenix, who both have 3-5 win-loss records, while Magnolia dropped to 3-6 to place 11th in the team standings and in the brink of facing elimination from the Top 8.
"We considered this game as most crucial for us as Magnolia is one our rivals for the Top 8. A loss will slide us to the Bottom 5 but a win will get us to the Top 8," said Beermen head coach Leo Austria.
"This win will be a good morale booster for us, giving us more confidence going to our next game against Meralco (on Saturday in Candon)," he added.
Meanwhile, Ricardo Ratliffe paced the Hotshots with 24 points and 15 rebounds, while Mark Barroca, who hit the milestone of playing his 600th consecutive game in the pros, added 13 markers and six dimes.
Magnolia will be back in action on Thursday, January 16, against Phoenix in a match-up where they put their conference lives on the line at the Philsports Arena.
On the other hand, San Miguel will try to further improve their record as they face the Meralco Bolts on Saturday, January 18, at the Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur.
The Scores:
SAN MIGUEL 85 - Perez 23, Narcis 18, Tiongson 13, Fajardo 13, Cruz 10, Lassiter 8, Ross 0, Brondial 0, Trollano 0, Cahilig 0.
MAGNOLIA 78 - Ratliffe 24, Barroca 13, Lucero 9, Lastimosa 9, Sangalang 6, Dela Rosa 4, Abueva 4, Alfaro 4, Ahanmisi 3, Balanza 2, Dionisio 0, Laput 0.
Quarter Scores: 20-17, 40-29, 60-60, 85-78.
