The San Miguel Beermen and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters boosted their respective bids for twice-to-beat after posting separate wins in the Oppo PBA Governors’ Cup Wednesday at Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The Beermen dispatched the listless Phoenix Fuel Masters, 109-107, while the Elasto Painters demolished the Alaska Aces, 112-82.
With the wins, San Miguel and Rain or Shine moved up in the team standings in the homestretch of the elimination round. The Beermen improved to 7-3 to force a triple tie with TNT and NLEX for third place.
Rain or Shine is just outside that logjam with a 6-4 card.
Only the top four teams will book a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
Terrence Watson, June Mar Fajardo and Alex Cabagnot powered the Beermen to the win over the hapless Phoenix (2-9) which ended its campaign with a nine-game skid.
Watson scored 26 points, 11 rebounds and five assists; Fajardo finished with 24 markers, 17 boards, four assists and six blocks; and Cabagnot tallied 24 points, 13 rebounds and six assists.
Cabagnot scored 19 points of his total output in the first half, including 12 straight to end the second frame that helped the Beermen overcome a 13-point deficit and take control of the game.
Phoenix tried to come back late in the game but time wasn’t on its side to complete the rally.
Meanwhile, J’Nathan Bullock scored 14 points and four rebounds to lead a balanced Rain or Shine attack against Alaska.
Beau Belga and Jericho Cruz each had 12 points, as Don Trollano chipped in 11 markers for Rain or Shine which led by as many as 37 points against the already-eliminated Alaska (3-8).
The scores:
First game
Rain or Shine 112 – Bullock 14, Cruz 12, Belga 12, Trollano 11, Tiu 9, Robles 9, Borboran 9, Almazan 7, Yap 6, Ahanmisi 5, Matias 4, King 4, Daquioag 4, Norwood 3, Maiquez 3, Ponferada 0.
Alaska 82 – Henton 20, Dela Cruz 12, Enciso 9, Manuel 9, Pascual 8, Casio 5, Exciminiano 5, Baclao 4, Cruz 3, Galliguez 3, Hontiveros 2, Mendoza 2, Racal 0.
Quarters: 29-23, 63-41, 92-61, 112-82.
Second game
SAN MIGUEL 109 – Watson 26, Fajardo 24, Cabagnot 24, Santos 15, Lassiter 13, Rosser 4, Espinas 3, Ross 0, Tubid 0.
PHOENIX 107 – Brown 30, Chan 18, Intal 12, Eriobu 10, Alolino 9, W.WIlson 8, Dehesa 7, Wright 5, Lanete 4, Kramer 2, Jazul 2, J. Wilson 0, Hayes 0, Miranda 0, Ababou 0.
Quarters: 23-28, 56-52, 86-77, 109-107.