The breaks came in the form of injuries to more than half of the RP Hapee lineup and the fumbling finish of what remained of the national candidates team, and these practically gave the Beermen a free ride to the quarterfinals.
RP Hapee, which played with only seven players with only six finishing the game, suffered a fifth straight defeat and joined RP Selecta, Barangay Ginebra and Shell on the sideline.
Five games are left in the eliminations but these are reduced to jockeying for positions among quarterfinalists Purefoods (8-2), Talk ’N Text (8-2), Coca-Cola (8-3), FedEx (6-4), Alaska (5-5), Sta. Lucia (5-5), Red Bull (5-5) and San Miguel Beer (5-5). Only the Hotdogs, the Phone Pals and the Tigers are assured of the twice-to-beat incentive in the quarters.
"You could say this is an ugly win. But a win is a win and I’ll take this anytime," said acting San Miguel coach Siot Tanquincen.
"I’m far from happy with this win. Nakita natin tonight kung ano ang mawawala sa amin without Lamont (Strothers). Si Lamont grabe ang intensity and if he’s playing, he won’t allow his teammates playing not in the same level of intensity," Tanquincen added.
The Beermen appeared to play half-heartedly and merely bank on more than enough ammunition to outgun a terribly-depleted Hapee team in hacking out the crucial win.
RP Hapee entered the playing court with only seven players – Rudy Hatfield, Renren Ritualo, Jeffrey Cariaso, Davonn Harp, Boyet Fernandez, Mick Pennisi and Johnny Abarrientos in uniform. Abarrientos didn’t finish the game, complaining of a sprained ankle.
But the six brave souls put a big fight, pushing the Beermen to the limit before crumbling at the finish due to fatigue.
RP Hapee fought San Miguel tooth and nail more than three-fourth of the way and even sat on a 65-61 cushion entering the last four minutes of play.
San Miguel found an unlikely hero in reserve guard Joey Mente who sparked a decisive fourth-quarter romp by the team. Mente made nine of his 11 points in the payoff quarter, including three straight baskets that tied the count at 59-all and a vital three-pointer making it 71-68 for SMB with time down to 1:54.
"Somehow, Joey Mente filled the void vacated by Lamont in terms of intensity," said Tanquincen.
Aside from piling up key baskets, Mente also put up a tough defensive stance against Jeffrey Cariaso, forcing the national hopeful to a number of errors and missed attempts in the second half.
Probably infuriated by Mente, Cariaso felled the cat-quick San Miguel guard with an elbow foul to the jaw with 7:46 left. Mente sat down the next three minutes of play before returning to the floor and continuing his demolition of the national hopefuls.