Santos hits game-winner for SMB

MANILA, Philippines — Arwind Santos drained the game-winner as San Miguel Beer got away with an 88-86 victory over NorthPort and spoiled Greg Slaughter’s debut for the Batang Pier in the 46th PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City yesterday.

The veteran forward received a perfect pass from Marcio Lassiter and calmly nailed the go-ahead jumper with 1.2 seconds left, saving the Beermen from the blushes and sealing their second straight win and a 2-1 card.

Santos’ heroics were a fitting redemption to his costly mistake the play before. He incurred a technical foul on a looseball collision with Sydney Onwubere, allowing Robert Bolick to tie the game at 86 with 7.3 ticks left.

In the second game, Magnolia ruled the fabled “Manila Clasico” against Barangay Ginebra, 89-79, for its third victory in as many outings.

The Gin Kings slipped to 1-2 in a tie with the Batang Pier despite the 22 markers of last season’s Best Player of the Conference, Stanley Pringle.

And later in the night, Kevin Alas scored 21 markers as NLEX (2-2) got back on track with a gritty 108-94 win over Terrafirma (0-2).