Simon saves San Mig Coffee

MANILA — Peter June Simon scored on a jumper in the last 19.4 seconds to lift San Mig Coffee Mixers to a pulsating 92-91 win over Barako Bull on Sunday in the 38th PBA Philippine Cup elimination round at the Araneta Coliseum.

Simon’s jumper came after Enrico Villanueva put Barako Bull up by one, 91-90, with 1:18 to go and were the last points scored in the game as both teams made bad misses the rest of the match.

Barako had a chance to grab the upper hand as Villanueva got another pass from Ronald Tubid and tried on a drive but the ball just bounced off the rim, paving way for San Mig Coffee to notch its third win and forge a three-way tie at third with Meralco and Alaska.

All three teams have similar 3-2 win-loss records but the Aces could get out of the tie with a win against Ginebra in the second game last night.

“We really needed this victory tonight. We needed to pull one out in the fourth quarter. I did not know what the controversy about the last shot was. It’s legal and it’s a Fiba rule. He tapped the ball off the rim,” said San Mig coach Tim Cone, referring to the last shot of Villanueva.

Barako Bull coach Junel Baculi contested the move as a goal-tending violation and that Villanueva’s shot should have counted.

After Barako Bull posted a big 59-47 advantage, James Yap scored a jumper that triggered a 14-2 run, allowing San Mig Coffee to grab the lead for good at 63-61.