ALLAN THE MAN

NBA MUST WATCH VIDEO: Deron Williams scoops up the steal and goes behind-the-back to Bojan Bogdanovic for the bucket.

JUNE Mar Fajardo got the last say in a gigantic battle with Greg Slaughter, making the baskets that mattered in the endgame as San Miguel Beer held off a Ginebra fightback, 79-77, in a thrilling PBA Philippine Cup game on Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

THE SCORES:

SMB 79 -- Santos 22, Fajardo 21, Lutz 10, Pascual 7, Tubid 6, Chua 4, Ross 3, Lassiter 3, Mercado 2, Maierhofer 1, Semerad 0, Fortuna 0, Omolon 0. 

Ginebra 77 -- Slaughter 16, Aguilar 15, Tenorio 10, Helterbrand 10, Caguioa 7, Ellis 6, Mamaril 3, Urbiztondo 3, Yeo 3, Reyes 2, Brondial 2, Monfort 0, Baracael 0, Forrester 0. 

Quarters: 14-17, 38-33, 61-49, 79-77

NBA MUST WATCH VIDEO: A night after Cleveland needed a big comeback, LeBron James wanted a fast start. It ended up being a record-setting one.

James scored 32 points and the Cavaliers made their first 11 3-point attempts, including nine in the first quarter, to rout the Atlanta Hawks 127-94 on Saturday.

Former national team head coach Chot Reyes has some ideas as to who should take his place in the Gilas Pilipinas program, but is also wary of pre-empting the Search and Selection Committee formed by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).

Reyes last week requested the Committee not to consider him for the post anymore, paving the way for a smooth transition.

Rain or Shine's Raymond Almazan and Meralco's John Ferriols very nearly engaged in a fight in the fourth quarter of their PBA Philippine Cup game Saturday in Davao City.

Almazan took exception to an elbow from the veteran Ferriols while the two were battling for rebounding position.

JIMMY Alapag is convinced the Gilas Pilipinas basketball program stands to benefit from the wide coaching experience of Norman Black, Jong Uichico and Talk ‘N Text team consultant Tab Baldwin - three coaches who get mentioned in the midst of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) search for a new basketball coach. 

The 5-7 Alapag said the three are a good fit for the international game, given the track record of Black and Uichico as champion coaches in the PBA, as well as their recent involvement with Gilas Pilipinas since last year. 

Mike Conley had 23 points and Marc Gasol did a little of everything as the Memphis Grizzlies got back into the win column Tuesday by holding off the last place Los Angeles Lakers 107-102.

Zach Randolph delivered his sixth double double in eight games and got the putback layup in the final seconds that iced the victory for the Grizzlies, who bounced back after suffering their first loss of the season on Saturday.