Chris Ross caught fire from long range and the San Miguel Beermen smothered the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 117-105 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Game 2 of the Commissioner's Cup semifinals on Monday.
The Beermen take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best of five series.
Known more as a defensive linchpin, Ross connected on 10 3-pointers on his way to career-best 34 points . He also had eight assists and three steals for SMB, which moved on the cusp of punching a return trip to the finals of the midseason conference.
Ross found his touch in the second period when the Beermen trailed by as much as 29 points, before dropping seven more triples in the second half.
Marcio Lassiter, who is out with an MCL injury, set the franchise record for most 3-pointers made (10) in a game in a 113-110 loss to Rain or Shine in Game 2 of the 2015 Governors' Cup semifinals.
"I think Chris had Marcio's spirit in him," said SMB head coach Leo Austria. "But it wasn't only Ross. Everybody stepped up. They knew the importance of this win."
Five more Beermen finished in double figures. Import Chris McCullough fired 22 points, Alex Cabagnot scored 17, June Mar Fajardo had 14 points and 15 rebounds, while Christian Standhardinger and Terrence Romeo combined for 27 points.
Down 47-18 in the second period, the Beermen went on a 21-0 tear, anchored on five 3-pointers, and never looked back.
"This game is unbelievable. I'm really surprised," Austria said. "Our players got it going in the last eight minutes of the second period. They were executing the things we talked about in practice during that stretch."
Things were going perfect for Rain or Shine early in the game, shooting seven 3-pointers in the opening salvo and took a commanding 34-13 advantage at the end of it.
Carl Montgomery finished with 24 points, 15 rebounds, and six assists for Rain or Shine, which will need everything in its arsenal to avert elimination when the two teams meet again for Game 3 on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
THE SCORES
San Miguel 117 - Ross 34, McCullough 22, Cabagnot 17, Standhardinger 15, Fajardo 14, Romeo 12, Pessumal 3, Rosser 0, Mamaril 0, Santos 0, Tubid 0, Nabong 0, Zamar 0.
Rain or Shine 105 - Montgomery 24, Nambatac 15, Daquioag 13, Yap 12, Ponferada 8, Belga 8, Norwood 6, Torres 5, Mocon 5, Borboran 4, Alejandro 3, Onwubere 2, Rosales 0.
Quarterscores: 13-34, 49-52, 89-73, 117-105.
EXTRA DRIBBLES
San Miguel was shooting bricks form the three-point area in the first quarter, going 0-of-7.
The 21-0 rally by the Beermen in the second period was the fourth all-time longest unanswered run in franchise history for the Beermen.