by Jonas Terrado
Columbian added more misery to struggling Philippine Cup champion San Miguel Beer after hacking out a 134-132 overtime win in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Glenn Khobuntin scored eight points late in regulation and the extra five-minute period while rookie CJ Perez scored the decisive basket in the dying seconds to give the Dyip just their second victory in eight outings this conference.
Import Lester Prosper had 40 points and 13 rebounds, Perez had 34 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals and Rashawn McCarthy produced 27 points and 14 assists to keep Columbian’s slim playoff hopes alive.
The Dyip face the NorthPort Batang Pier on Wednesday followed by the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters on Saturday and defending champion Barangay Ginebra San Miguel on July 14.
“We’re just lucky against San Miguel,” said coach Johnedel Cardel, whose wards produced a 124-118 win over SMB last Jan. 18 in the Philippine Cup. “I hope this will motivate the boys that they can win against the other teams.”
San Miguel dropped to a 2-5 record, with perhaps no other recourse but to win its remaining three games to stay in the playoff race.
The Beermen sent the game into overtime when Arwind Santos tied the count at 118-all on a right elbow three, 1.5 seconds left in the fourth.
But Khobuntin scored six in the extension, including an open three for 132-128 with 46 seconds remaining.
Santos’ jumper trimmed the gap to two, 132-130, before Perez drove for a layup to make it a four-point game in Columbian’s favor.
Import Charles Rhodes had 26 points and 16 rebounds and June Mar Fajardo added 24 points and 15 rebounds for the Beermen in the loss.
