Meralco disconnected; SMB grounds Air21, stays alive

Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

3 p.m. – Alaska vs Barako Bull

5:15 p.m. – Talk n Text vs Ginebra

MANILA, Philippines - San Miguel Beer stood its ground versus Air21 in a game with a sprinkle of swings, bumps and pushes, carving out a 101-88 win that revived the Beermen’s Top Four hopes in the PBA PLDT Home Telpad Governors Cup elimination round at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna last night.

Chief playmaker Chris Ross returned from a four-game layoff in the Petron Blaze Saturday Special, and provided a big help as the Beermen checked a two-game skid and closed out their elims stint with a 5-4 win-loss record.

The Beermen will end up in a three-way tie at fourth place or in a four-way logjam from third to sixth at the end of the elims Monday. Any tie will be resolved via the quotient system.

The Express bungled a shot at an outright Top Four finish and also wound up with a 5-4 slate. They’re in danger of missing a twice-to-beat bonus in the quarterfinals with their 13-point loss to the Beermen.

Earlier in the day, Gary David and Mario West combined for 63 points with three other Meralco players delivering double-digit outputs as the Bolts ended their conference and season with a 123-95 thrashing of the Globalport Batang Pier.

“We just wanted to finish on a high note. It’s been a frustrating season for us, but at least we went 3-3 in our last six games. We’re gonna take a rest and see what happens in the coming season,” said coach Ryan Gregorio, whose Meralco squad failed to finish better than seventh in any of the three conferences.

With Ross back in action, the Beermen regained fluidity in their game and scored some amount of payback against the team that stunned them in the Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals. In the absence of Ross, San Miguel went 1-3.

Reggie Williams topscored with 27 points, Junmar Fajardo contributed 20 and Sol Mercado added a personal conference high of 16 as the Beermen beat the Express in the rugged, emotional match.

The Beermen twice led by 16, the second and last at 99-83 on a decisive roll from a close 75-71 count.

With Fajardo imposing himself early then Williams taking over in the second quarter, the Beermen led by 16, 48-32, before settling for a 52-45 lead at the half.

The Express made it close at the turn on a 13-3 run ignited by two free throws and a three-pointer by Aldrech Ramos and capped by a rare four-point play by Asi Taulava.

Four technical infractions by the Express just in the first half helped the Beermen build a big buffer early.

From a “T” committed by Eloy Poligrates, Chris Ross nailed a charity that gave San Miguel Beer its first double-digit spread at 26-16 eight minutes into the contest.