A missed layup became the winning basket as San Miguel Beer rallied from 20 points down to edge NLEX, 135-133, in the PBA Governors’ Cup on Wednesday, October 21. Robert Bolick was whistled for goal interference with 5.2 seconds left.

George King missed the layup, but the basket was awarded after Bolick was caught pulling on the net during the rebound. LJ Gonzales then missed a left-corner triple for NLEX, and Chris Ross grabbed the defensive board just before the buzzer.

Beermen Rally Behind Trollano, Lassiter and King

Don Trollano scored 17 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter to spark the rally, adding 10 rebounds. Marcio Lassiter poured in 17 of his 19 points in the third period to keep San Miguel within 96-112.

NLEX still stretched the lead to 20 twice, the last time at 118-98. King led San Miguel with 27 points and nine rebounds, while June Mar Fajardo added 26 points and 10 boards.

Fajardo also joined the PBA’s 10,000-point club in the game. He was five points shy after last week’s win over Terrafirma and was expected to reach the mark against NLEX.

Deonte Burton led all scorers with 43 points and all players with six blocks for NLEX. Schonny Winston and Gonzales each added 20, while Bolick’s 15 assists and 13 points went for naught.

PBA Governors’ Cup Standings: NLEX Keeps No. 1 Seed, SMB Takes No. 2

Both teams finished the Group A elimination round at 9-3, but NLEX took the No. 1 spot on a higher quotient. The Road Warriors will face the fourth-ranked Group B team in the quarterfinals.

San Miguel, which lost to NLEX by 14 in their first meeting, takes the No. 2 slot. The Beermen will face the third-ranked Group B team in a best-of-five series.

Coach Leo Austria said he told his players to “play to win” even though the game only affected seeding. Austria wants the “killer instinct” the Beermen have shown since winning their first championship together to carry over.