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Kia holds on for confidence-boosting win over SMB in PBA preseason

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/sports/12/05/kia.jpg"/><figcaption>Kia Picanto players cheer in this file photo. Richard Esguerra,<a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/basketball/photos"> ABS-CBN Sports</a></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines — Kia Picanto survived a pair of potential game-tying triples from Alex Cabagnot and Arwind Santos to hold off San Miguel, 78-75, in a PBA preseason game at Claret School in Quezon City.Leading the way for Kis were the young trio of Jackson Corpuz, Philip Paniamogan, and Glenn Khobuntin.The Picanto, whose trade of the top pick in the 2017 Rookie Draft to San Miguel has become a major talking point, wasted a 15-point third-quarter lead but came through with strong defensive stands in crunch time.“We were able to pull off a tough win against a champion team, even if it’s preseason. It goes a long way for us, probably more than San Miguel. It’s a big confidence-builder,” said Kia coach Chris Gavina.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/basketball/news/2017/12/04/ros-burns-phoenix-preseason-nlex-stops-alaska-34346">READ: ROS burns Phoenix in preseason, NLEX stops Alaska</a></li></ul>San Miguel’s second unit, led by Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, erased a double-digit deficit. Rookie Louie Vigil gave SMB the lead, 63-62, with 8:56 left and it was back and forth from there.A three-pointer by Prince Caperal with 5:13 to play made it a seven-point game, 74-67, only for Arwind Santos and Marcio Lassiter to knock down back-to-back three-pointers.A bucket by Mark Yee gave Kia some breathing room, before Cabagnot brought SMB to within two, 77-75, with still 1:13 left to play.Unfortunately for San Miguel, they simply could not get over the jump. Santos’s potential game-tying lay-up in transition was partially blocked by Rashawn McCarthy. They still had a chance after forcing a shot clock violation, but Chris Ross’s three-pointer was way off.The Picanto left the door open for San Miguel as Khobuntin made only one of two charities, but Cabagnot and Santos both misfired from beyond the arc, allowing Kia to escape with the win.“A lot of character was shown today by our guys,” said Gavina.Corpuz led Kia with 12 points and eight boards, while Paniamogan added 11 markers. Khobuntin and Bong Galanza each contributed nine points, and the veteran Yee grabbed 12 rebounds.Lassiter has 16 points and Cabagnot added 15 for San Miguel, which was playing sans star center June Mar Fajardo.

Kia Picanto survived a pair of potential game-tying triples from Alex Cabagnot and Arwind Santos to hold off San Miguel, 78-75, in a PBA preseason game at Claret School in Quezon City.

Kia Picanto survived a pair of potential game-tying triples from Alex Cabagnot and Arwind Santos to hold off San Miguel, 78-75, in a PBA preseason game at Claret School in Quezon City.

Kia holds on for confidence-boosting win over SMB in PBA preseason

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Kia holds on for confidence-boosting win over SMB in PBA preseason

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 05, 2017 01:47 PM PHT

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PBA

Kia Picanto

San Miguel Beermen

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