David finished with 35 points, his second straight 30-plus point game, scoring 26 in the second half when he helped rally the Tigers from a 14-point deficit in the third period.

The last of David's offensive production practically sealed the game for Powerade when the league's top local scorer converted on a difficult attempt despite having Arwind Santos, one of the league's best defenders, all over him for a 97-89 tally with 26.9 seconds to play.

The Tigers snapped their three-game losing skid and improved their record to 2-4. The team previously lost 12 of its last 13 games dating back to the Philippine Cup.

"Akala ko hindi ko na kayo (media) makikita," an obviously relieved Powerade coach Bo Perasol said with a smile after the game. "It was obviously an uphill climb for us. I just exhorted them at the beginning that it's not even the score that will matter. It's how they will play the game."

David, the third best scorer in the league inclusive of the imports, went 5-of-6 from the three-point zone and 8-of-10 from the foul line in an impressive display of marksmanship that more than made up for new import Martin Zeno's meager scoring contribution.

Zeno, coming in as a replacement for Russel Carter, finished with only 13 points in his debut and was hounded by foul trouble in 25 minutes of play.

But the Tigers' bench — led by Chico Lanete who scored 11 points — also came to the fore in outscoring the Beermen, 42-15.

San Miguel seemed in control of the match but lost its grip in the final period. The Beermen suffered their third straight loss for a 1-4 mark.

With David Young hitting a three-pointer, the Beermen jumped off to a 72-58 lead with 3:05 to go in the third period.

But the Tigers closed out the quarter behind a strong 13-4 run to make it a 76-71 game entering the final 12 minutes of play.

Powerade's fiery assault didn't stop there.

The Tigers quickly outscored the Beermen in the fourth, 14-2, to finally grab the upperhand at 87-85.

San Miguel threatened for the last time at 92-89 on rookie Rabeh Al-Hussaini's two free throws, before Alex Cabagnot scored the only field goal by the Beermen in the last five minutes, 97-91, when the Tigers had all but wrapped up the game.

Santos topscored for the struggling Beermen with 26 points, while Young added 15.

San Miguel has now gone 1-4 since acquiring Al-Hussaini, Noy Baclao and Rey Guevarra in a blockbuster trade that sent veterans Dondon Hontiveros, Danny Seigle, Dorian Pena and Paul Artadi to Air21. -