Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 3) – Shabazz Muhammad sank the game-winning charities in his second game with the San Miguel Beermen to escape with a 104-100 win over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the PBA Governors’ Cup on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With 11 seconds left in the game, the former NBA veteran went perfect in the free-throw line off a Beau Belga foul to lead all players with 33 points, 21 rebounds, and six assists.
“I want to have those free-throws to win for my team and win the game and it went in,” Muhammad said in the post-game interview.
San Miguel led all game long, racking up their biggest lead at 18 points in the second quarter. The Beermen had a 46% shooting clip, while Rain or Shine can only manage 36%. They also worked harder in defense with a total of 60 rebounds, compared to the Elasto Painters’ 47 boards.
Rain or Shine started to get close in the final two minutes of the game as their reliable scorer Rey Nambatac, who finished with 17 points, converted his crucial shots and free-throw opportunities for a one-possession deficit.
Vic Manuel nailed a long-range jumper with 29 seconds remaining for a 102-98 lead, but Elasto Painters forward Javee Mocon was fouled by Beermen big man June Mar Fajardo and made both his free-throws.
The next play led to Belga fouling Muhammad off an inbound play for the trip to the line. With no timeout left, Rain or Shine ran the ball after Muhammad banked his free-throws and Mocon missed on his shot from the right flank.
“If we lost, we would not have a chance to get into the quarterfinals. But with the win, we now have a chance to qualify,” said San Miguel head coach Leo Austria, whose team now holds a 6-4 record and ties with Alaska in the fourth spot of the team standings.
Import Henry Walker led the Elasto Painters with 23 points and 10 rebounds while Belga added 19 markers, as they fell in tenth place with a 3-7 slate and on the brink of not making it into the quarterfinals.
The Scores:
SAN MIGUEL 104 – Muhammad 33, Manuel 18, Romeo 17, Fajardo 14, Perez 11, Tautuaa 8, Cruz 3, Brondial 0, Ross 0, Lassiter 0
RAIN OR SHINE 100 – Walker 23, Belga 19, Nambatac 17, Ponferada 15, Mocon 10, Asistio 9, Norwood 3, Nieto 2, Torres 2, Tolentino 0, Jackson 0, Borboran 0, Santillan 0
Quarterscores: 33-21, 58-44, 76-72, 104-100
