By ADRIAN STEWART CO
San Miguel Beermen got back on the winning track in the 2022-2023 PBA Governors’ Cup with a 145-132 win over NorthPort Batang Pier in a high-scoring affair at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Wednesday night, February 15.
Holding to a slim 72-67 lead at the half, the Beermen leaned on inside conversions by June Mar Fajardo, Jaymar Perez and Cameron Clark as the lead reached its largest at 108-90 on a basket by Ilonggo Jericho Cruz.
The Batang Pier countered with a strong run in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 125-130, but back-to-back layups by Perez and five straight points by Marcio Lassiter increased the Beermen’s advantage to 145-130.
Clark finished with 44 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, while Fajardo contributed double-double 29 points and 12 rebounds as the Beermen moved up to joint first place with a 6-1 slate.
Perez unloaded 24 points, mostly in the second half. Lassiter contributed 16 markers, with four three-point conversions, while Vic Manuel ended with 12 markers for the Beermen.
Kevin Murphy had double-double 39 points and 13 rebounds, Arvin Tolentino had a career-best 32 points, while Robert Bolick, Jr., Ilonggo Paul Zamar and John Michael Calma had 16, 12 and 11 markers, respectively, as the Batang Pier dropped to 0-6.
In the first game, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had a solid PBA debut while Roger Pogoy complemented it with his torrid shooting as TNT Tropang Giga cruised to a 138-116 rout of Blackwater Bossing.
Pogoy became the first local player to reach the 40-point mark in the season-ending conference and spiced up his performance with nine rebounds. Hollis-Jefferson chipped in a near triple-double 37 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.
With Pogoy and Hollis-Jefferson at the forefront, the Tropang Giga took full control of the game from late in the opening quarter before practically cruising to the lopsided win as the lead reached its largest at 105-74.
It was the third consecutive victory for the Tropang Giga as they surged to the top spot with a 6-1 win-loss slate. The Bossing slumped to their fifth consecutive loss to drop to a 1-6 record.
SAN MIGUEL 145 — Clark 44, Fajardo 29, Perez 24, Lassiter 16, Manuel 12, Cruz 9, Bulanadi 5, Enciso 3, Tautuaa 3, Brondial 0, Ross 0.
NORTHPORT 132 — Murphy 39, Tolentino 32, Bolick 16, Zamar 14, Calma 11, Chan 9, Caperal 4, Ayaay 4, Munzon 3, Balagasay 0, Taha 0.
Quarterscores: 40-36, 72-67, 108-96, 145-132./ASC, WDJ