Arwind Santos looks for an open teammate while being chased by Barako Bull’s Chico Lanete. (PBA IMAGES)
Arwind Santos came up with a near-perfect game and the San Miguel Beermen stayed perfect in the 40th PBA Philippine Cup, defeating the listless Barako Bull Energy Colas, 103-89, yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Santos, a former MVP, erupted for a game-high 27 points on a nine-for-10 shooting from the field and a five-for-six clip from the three-point land.
The lanky forward also hit four of his six free throw attempts.
The Beermen pocketed their third straight win, earning a piece of the lead in the team standings with the Alaska Aces, who are also 3-0 (win-loss).
San Miguel and Alaska will face other in a gigantic showdown on Wednesday.
The Energy Colas tasted their third straight loss in as many games, staying winless under new head coach Koy Banal.
Marcio Lassiter and Cebuano center June Mar Fajardo provided Santos the needed support with the former firing 20 points and the latter scoring 18 points aside from grabbing 11 rebounds.
Barako Bull kept the game close early and even went into the break with a 45-43 lead.
San Miguel then caught fire in the third period with Fajardo tossing in eight points Lassiter hitting two triples in a 22-6 run that allowed the Beermen to lead by as many as 12 points in the third.
Former Beerman Denok Miranda teamed up with fellow point guard Jeric Fortuna in a searing comeback for Barako Bull.
Late in the third, Fortuna dropped two straight triples then Miranda came up with a steal before sinking his own triple as the Energy Colas staged a 12-2 run to move within 68-70 going into the fourth.
Barako Bull stayed within striking distance in the fourth but just couldn’t get over the hump as Santos, Lassiter and Fajardo pumped in crucial points to preserve the win for the Beermen.
Lassiter converted two freebies then Santos hit his fifth three-pointer in the game, giving the Beermen a 94-87 lead in the final 1:46.
Miranda paced the Energy Colas with 17 points, while Carlo Lastimosa and JC Intal contribited 12 points apiece.
Fortuna finished with 11 markers, while Chico Lanete chipped in 10 in a balanced Barako Bull scoring that went for naught.
In the main game, the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters (2-2) rebounded from a sorry loss to Alaska by blowing the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (2-2), 99-76.
BOX SCORES
SAN MIGUEL (103) – Santos 27, Lassiter 20, Fajardo 18, Mercado 12, Lutz 8, Omolon 8, Tubid 3, Semerad 2, Ross 2, Hubalde 2, Chua 1, Pascual 0.
BARAKO BULL (89) – Miranda 17, Lastimosa 12, Intal 12, Fortuna 11, Lanete 10, Garcia 8, Pennisi 6, Paredes 4, Wilson 4, Salvador 2, Marcelo 2, Pascual 1, Salva 0.QUARTERSCORES: 26-24, 43-45, 70-68, 103-89.