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PBA: SMB rallies past SLR, keeps unbeaten run
Written by staff   
Friday, 20 March 2009 07:41

San Miguel BeermenSan Miguel kept its unbeaten mark Thursday night but not after surviving its toughest test yet in the Motolite-PBA Fiesta Cup.

The Beermen rallied back from as much as a 19-point deficit and then leaned on crucial baskets by Dondon Hontiveros in the stretch to frustrate Sta. Lucia, 98-92 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig. With the score tied at 92, Hontiveros nailed a three-pointer over Ryan Reyes in the final 23 seconds to give the Beermen a three-point lead and the cushion they needed in notching their fifth straight win.

The Realtors’ final attempt to send the game into overtime dashed into thin air after Joseph Yeo was called for an offensive foul on Jay Washington coming off a Sta. Lucia timeout.

Hontiveros then split his free throws at the other end for a safe 96-92 lead.

Gabe Freeman led the Beermen with 24 points and 12 rebounds, but shot 10-of-25 from the floor. Hontiveros added 17 while Olsen Racela had 15 as the two led a big San Miguel comeback in the third period.

Down 43-62 early in the third, San Miguel went on a zone in what proved to be the turning point of the exciting ball game.

With the Realtors failing to crack the Beermen’s defense, San Miguel went on a 19-7 run the rest of the quarter, which Racela and Hontiveros capped with successive treys to make it a 62-69 contest entering the pivotal fourth quarter.

Then Mick Pennisi joined the scoring fray by hitting two triples, Washington drilled in another from downtown and Freeman added eight points as the Beermen grabbed the upperhand, 81-75, with 7:19 left to play.

It was a closely fought contest from there.

Racela hit his last trey for the night to give San Miguel a 92-90 lead, but Kelly Williams countered with two free throws in the Realtors’ next play to tie the count for the last time with 1:20 to go.

Williams and import Anthony Johnson both finished with 19 markers to pace the Realtors, whose three-game winning run came to an end for a 3-2 mark.

Tags: PBA  
 
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