By JAY R. GOTERA
MANILA — Marcio Lassiter nailed a last-second miracle three-pointer to lift the San Miguel Beermen to a 111-110 win over the Star Hotshots in Game 3 of their PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinal series Wednesday night.
The shot that bounced off the glass into the net as the final buzzer sounded gave SMB a 2-1 lead in the best-of-5 series, with Game 4 set Friday.
The Beermen were trailing by two points, 110-108, after Star’s Ricardo Ratliffe scored on a dazzling spin move off Charles Rhodes with 13 seconds left. Ratliffe’s basket capped a 16-6 run by Star.
Coming from a timeout, SMB’s Chris Ross missed a shot, but Ratliffe tipped the ball that ended up in Lassiter’s hands. The SMB gunner then crossed over Justin Melton before unleashing a last-gasp three-pointer from the left wing that went in as time expired, breaking the Hotshots’ hearts.
Lassiter finished with 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and one steal in 37 minutes.
Rhodes led SMB with 36 points on top of 7 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Ross also sparkled for SMB, finishing with 27 points, including 14 in the third quarter, along with 8 boards and 8 assists.
June Mar Fajardo added 18 points and 8 rebounds.
Ratliffe exploded with a game-high 44 points, including 13 in the payoff period, on top of 19 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 blocks. But all this meant nothing in the end as Star now stands on the brink of elimination.
Paul Lee tallied 21 markers and 5 assists, while Ian Sangalang and Jio Jalalon scored 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Game Thursday: TNT KaTropa Texters vs. Barangay Ginebra Kings (Game 3 of best-of-5 semifinals; TNT leads 2-0).
