Beermen endure ABL's first triple overtime game to notch 16th straight win

The San Miguel Beermen went through the Asean Basketball League's first triple overtime game and came out on the other end with their 16th straight win, defeating the Westports Malaysia Dragons 107-104, Friday at the MABA Stadium in Malaysia.

The Philippine squad head to the postseason with a 19-3 card, tops in the ABL, while the Dragons slumped to 12-9.

Down 61-54 at the start of the fourth quarter, last season's MVP Leo Avenido led an inspired rally, scoring the period's last five points, including a triple with 19.6 seconds to go, to knot things at 79-all and forge an extra period.

Val Acuna drew first blood for SMB in overtime, swiping the ball and going the other way for a lay-up, but former San Beda College prospect Julius Armon connected on a trey. Three more from Acuna swung the lead back in favor of SMB, 84-82, but Gavin Edwards unloaded four points to put the Dragons on top.

A split at the line by Brian Williams forced San Miguel to foul to stop the clock, with John Ng dutifully burying both, 88-85. Once again though, Leo Avenido played the role of hero, canning a triple for another deadlock, 88-all, as another overtime was needed.

Brian Williams started the second overtime with a strong move to give SMB the lead, before following it up with a spin move for two more, 92-88. San Miguel's interior defense led to another Malaysia turnover, as Hubalde scored off a banker to make it a six-point game, with 3:20 to go, 94-88.

The home team managed to tie things at 95-all, 1:36 left in the second overtime period, and then got another trey from Armon to make it 98-96, under a minute to play. Paolo Hubalde and Val Acuna conspired to put San Miguel up anew, but a quick two by Malaysia put both sides at the century mark, and Brian Williams missed a gimme-shot at the other end, forcing a third overtime period.

The two teams played to a 104-all draw with 2:57 left in the third OT, but both sides were a man down, with Malaysia losing Gavin Edwards to foul trouble, and Beerman Val Acuna landing wrong after a score, forcing him to the sideline.

A tough Leo Avenido floater put the Beermen up anew, 106-104 but Avenido fell victim to cramps after the make. The shot however turned out to be the go-ahead score as the Dragons failed to score the rest of the way. Hubalde crafted the final score with a split at the line with seven seconds left, and the home side could not force another extension. - Renee Avena Fopalan/AMD, GMA News