By Diego dela Paz
QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) – San Miguel Beermen survived a huge scare from Star Hotshots and eked out a 103-99 win to kept its quest for a grand slam alive in the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After getting beat by Ricardo Ratliffe in Game 1, Tyler Wilkerson put up a huge effort of 46 points with 17 rebounds in all 48 minutes on the court, while Marcio Lassiter added 17 points off three made shots from beyond the arc.
The Beermen made its first semi-finals appearance in the tournament since the PBA switched back to the three-conference format in the 2010-11 season. Previously, San Miguel last entered the Final Four in 2002, where they were defeated by the Batang Red Bull Thunder in four games, 3-1.
Star was completely in command through most of the contest, but Wilkerson and Lassiter responded to the call of Head Coach Leo Austria to keep the game within single digit entering the fourth, 87-78.
Wilkerson then willed the Beermen to overcome the Hotshots in the final frame, compounded by Star’s field goal woes in the last 3:19 of the match, to tie the contest at 99-all on June Mar Fajardo’s hook shot with 2:13 left in the match.
Then, Philippine Cup Finals most valuable player Chris Ross scored the last four points – including two of four made shots from the foul line – to give San Miguel enough lift for the victory.
Ratliffe led the way for Star with 24 points, with Peter June Simon adding 21. However, both players were held scoreless in the pivotal fourth quarter. Allein Maliksi was a non-factor in the contest, scoring a paltry nine points in contrast to his 23 points explosion in Game 1.
The San Miguel Beermen will face Rain or Shine in their best-of-five set starting this Sunday, April 24, also at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Photo credit: Peter Baltazar / Sports On Air
