By Adrian Stewart Co
San Miguel Beermen relied on a huge second half rampage to take down the struggling Blackwater Bossing, 99-80, in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City yesterday.
June Mar Fajardo had his best game since returning from injury with double-double 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Jaymar Perez and Marcio Lassiter added 14 and 13, respectively, as the Beermen rises to 3-1.
Alex Cabagnot and Ilonggo Paul Zamar contributed 12 and 11 markers, respectively, while Arwind Santos and Von Pessumal ended up with 10 points each for the Beermen, which were without injured Terrence Romeo.
The Beermen started strong for a 20-11 first quarter lead on inside hits by Fajardo. It later grew to 35-23 midway in the second period on conversions from Santos, Cabagnot and Lassiter.
The Bossing, however, countered with three-point hits from Simon Enciso, Chris Michael Tolomia and Paul Desiderio to take a 37-35 lead but a basket by Lassiter and two free throws by Moala Tuatuaa gave the Beermen a 39-38 halftime edge.
The Beermen got baskets from Chris Ross, Lassiter, Cabagnot, and Santos to start the third as they widen the lead to 58-42. The Bossing rallied to within 48-58 but SMB got conversions from Perez to increase the lead to 69-53.
San Miguel Beer continued its rampage in the fourth as the lead reached its largest at 25 points at 88-63 on baskets by Zamar and Pessumal. Blackwater made late baskets but could only come to as close as 19 points.
Enciso top-scored with 25 points, including seven three-point conversions, while Tolomia and Kelly Nabong added 12 markers each as the Bossing its fourth straight loss in as many games.
BOX SCORE:
SAN MIGUEL 99 – Fajardo 16, Perez 14, Lassiter 13, Cabagnot 12, Zamar 11, Santos 10, Pessumal 10, Ross 5, Gamalinda 2, Tautuaa 2, Comboy 2, Gotladera 2, Sena 0.
BLACKWATER 80 – Enciso 25, Tolomia 12, Nabong 12, Daquioag 9, Desiderio 5, Escoto 5, Amer 4, Canaleta 4, Magat 2, Acuno 2, Paras 0, Semerad 0, Dennison 0, Torralba 0.
Quarterscores: 20-11, 39-38, 69-53, 99-80./ASC, WDJ