ANTIPOLO — Bennie Boatwright was simply the difference as San Miguel hacked out a 98-94 decision against the erstwhile streaking NLEX to get back on track in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Sunday at the Ynares Center here.
The comebacking import dropped 41 points, 25 of which he made in the first half, although it was in the endgame where he shone the brightest, powering the Beermen’s strong windup to repel their foes–and snap a two-game skid.
The crew stared at a 92-94 deficit behind a Cady Lalanne triple, but the 6-foot-10 winger took over from there, going perfect from the foul line before slamming home the go-ahead jam to put them ahead for good with 32.1 seconds to go.
(C) PBA Images
SMB then leaned on defense afterward, leading to an unmolested CJ Perez bucket for the eventual scoreline with 9.3 seconds left in the game, becoming as well the latest to become a member of the league’s 5,000 career points club.
A Robert Bolick miss from the four-point line and a rebound by Boatwright as time expired were all enough for the powerhouse to escape, in the process completing the comeback from as much as 15 points down.
“Talagang makikita natin ang difference ni Boatwright. Big impact siya sa team,” lauded head coach Leo Austria of the Gilas naturalization candidate, who was actually under the weather and did not practice the day before his debut.
Resident sniper Marcio Lassiter led the welcoming committee for Boatwright with 16 points, spiked by a 3-of-5 clip from three-point distance.
Perez had 13 points and nine rebounds in a historic night. Jericho Cruz supplied 11 points and nine rebounds as his hustle on both ends of the floor proved crucial during their second-quarter retaliation from their foes’ torrid start.
And the locals sure did more than enough to step up for June Mar Fajardo, who only had 10 points and 11 boards as he, too, was nursing colds.
Their efforts, furthermore, made up for the absence of key wingman Don Trollano, who was sidelined due to a back injury, according to reports.
San Miguel improved to 4-4 after stopping the four-game winning streak of the Road Warriors, although they remained at no. 2 with a 6-2 record.
(C) PBA Images
Lalanne led NLEX with 35 points on 14-of-20 shooting and 12 rebounds in another stellar showing, while Deschon Winston backed him up with 20.
The tandem actually steered their side to a blistering start in which they raced to a 23-14 lead six minutes into the game, eventually inflating it to 35-20 later.
But then, the Beermen fought back before turning things around in the third, setting up the tight affair which saw the Road Warriors take a two-point lead entering the final minute behind the hot shooting of Lalanne.
Boatwright, however, happened, and that proved to be the beginning of the end for NLEX as it could no longer replicate the endgame magic it had against Meralco last Friday, when Bolick and LJ Gonzales connected for the win.
Boatwright also finished with a 3-of-5 clip from four-point distance alongside 11 rebounds, two assists, and a steal in a victorious homecoming.
“It feels good to be back home,” expressed the 29-year-old former USC Trojan. “I’m just excited to be playing with the guys, and it’s like I never left.”
The Scores:
San Miguel 98 – Boatwright 41, Lassiter 16, Perez 13, Cruz 11, Fajardo 10, Tiongson 5, Tautuaa 2, Ross 0, Cahilig 0, Rosales 0, Brondial 0.
NLEX 94 – Lalanne 35, Winston 20, Bolick 9, Gonzales 8, Semerad 6, Rodger 5, Bahio 4, Racal 3, Torres 3, Alas 1, Fajardo 0, Ramirez 0, Herndon 0.
Quarterscores: 25-35, 50-52, 77-68, 98-94.
