WATCH: San Miguel vs TNT Game Highlights [PBA S48 Comm’s Cup | Dec. 17, 2023]
TNT set the pace most of the way, but San Miguel Beer sneaked in with a crucial blow at the finish and pulled off a steal, 98-93, to gain a piece of fourth spot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo Sunday.
CJ Perez, Ivan Aska and Jericho Cruz teamed up for a 6-0 closing salvo in the last 1:50 of play to lift the Beermen to a second straight victory and to 5-3 overall in a tie with idle NorthPort.
Playing on borrowed time with supposed replacement Bennie Boatwright nursing an ailment, Aska continued to play like a true pro and warrior, coming through with 25 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals against three turnovers.
His biggest play came in the form of a layup that gave the Beermen a 96-93 lead with 28 seconds left.
Perez scored the go-ahead basket earlier, 94-93, and won’t stop right there, pulling a steal off Kim Montalbo that sent Cruz to the stripe to settle the outcome of the game with 2-of-2 freebies.
It was a sorry fold-up for the Tropang Giga who enjoyed control most of the way only to sag and collapse with 0-of-5 field clip in the last two minutes.
Coach Jojo Lastimosa’s crew went winless after Montalbo gave the team the upperhand for the last time at 93-92 in the last 2:25 mark.