Beermen Rally from 17-Point Deficit, Upset Bolts

San Miguel kept its playoff hopes alive in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup with a gritty 103-92 comeback win over Meralco on Tuesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Beermen found themselves in an early hole, falling behind 19-2 to the Bolts. However, San Miguel gradually fought back, slowly gaining momentum before taking control in the third quarter and dominating the final period to bounce back from a tough loss to Blackwater.

Don Trollano delivered the game’s turning point, igniting a crucial 10-2 run that gave the Beermen a 90-79 lead with under nine minutes left. His timely scoring off the bench provided San Miguel the breathing room they needed, a lead that held despite Meralco's late rally.

The Beermen leaned on their veteran players in the final moments, with Bennie Boatwright, June Mar Fajardo, and CJ Perez sealing the victory in the closing minute. The win lifted San Miguel to a 5-5 record, moving them into seventh place and surpassing Magnolia in the tightly packed standings.

“We’ve been talking about our slow starts,” said head coach Leo Austria. “But we knew Meralco was coming in fresh and energetic. What was important is that our sense of urgency stayed throughout the game. This win was crucial for our chances.”

Fajardo was again dominant for San Miguel, posting 19 points and 17 rebounds. Trollano, in his return from a back injury, contributed 16 points and earned Player of the Game honors, scoring six of those in the pivotal fourth quarter. Boatwright, despite a rough shooting night (5-of-20 from the field and 0-of-7 from three), finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists. Perez added 14 points, while Mo Tautua chipped in 12 points and eight rebounds.

Meralco, now 5-3, was led by Marvin Jones, who tallied 26 points and 13 rebounds, while Chris Newsome added 18 points. CJ Cansino and Chris Banchero contributed 12 points each.

The Bolts made one final push late, cutting a double-digit deficit to just 96-92 with an 8-1 run sparked by Jones, Cansino, and Javee Mocon. However, Boatwright’s clutch free throws and key baskets from Fajardo and Perez sealed the win for the Beermen.

San Miguel now looks ahead to must-win games against Terrafirma and Phoenix to secure a quarterfinal spot, while Meralco aims to bounce back and strengthen its bid for a Top Four finish when they face Barangay Ginebra next.