San Miguel Beer survived the absence of head coach Leo Austria as well as the late rally from Phoenix to escape with a 108-104 victory in the 2022 PBA Commissioner's Cup at the PhilSports Arena on Saturday, Nov. 19.
The Beermen saw their once 13-point lead got chopped down to a single point late in the final frame but managed to hold on behind the steady free-throw shooting from CJ Perez and Devon Scott.
Simon Enciso picked the perfect time to hit his mark from the three-point territory and finished with 20 points built on six triples while Scott posted a double-double display of 18 points and 15 rebounds. Perez, still feeling the fatigue from his stint with Gilas, bounced back from a lackluster performance the last time out with 16 points — including two pressure-packed free throws with 1.4 seconds left to seal the deal for the Beermen.
SMB, though, looked winded late in the final frame as it failed to protect its six-point lead, 105-99, with 1:42 remaining on the clock.
Javee Mocon scored on a layup before Tyler Tio drilled a booming triple that cut the deficit to just one. Scott was sent to the foul line but split his charities, leaving a window open for Phoenix with 11 ticks left.
SMB, however, dodged a huge bullet as RJ Jazul went a little too strong on his top of the key triple that could have given the Fuel Masters the lead.
Mocon paced the Fuel Masters with 18 points while the dynamic rookie duo of Encho Serrano and Tyler Tio chipped in 14 points apiece.
With the win, SMB snapped a two-game slide and improved to a 4-5 record in the standing to stay in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs.
Phoenix, on the other hand, has now absorbed its third straight defeat, putting its campaign highlighted by a five-game winning streak hang in the balance after falling to 5-6 win-loss slate.