The San Miguel Beermen have finally broken into the win column of the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, beating an import-deprived Blackwater Elite, 127-106, Friday evening at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Beermen pulled away in the second quarter thanks to Von Pessumal, who went a perfect 4-of-4 from three in the period alone to guide his side to a 58-40 lead. They never relinquished the driver’s seat the rest of the way.
The Elite still managed close within nine early in the final quarter. Marcio Lassiter then stepped up for SMB, knocking down a whopping seven three-pointers in the frame alone to douse the opposition.
Lassiter finished with 29 points built on nine treys. Meanwhile, Pessumal supplied 12 markers in the victory that saw San Miguel nail a total of 18 threes.
“A lot of people thought this will be an easy game for us kasi walang import [si Blackwater]. May import o wala, basta nanalo, tatanggapin ko ng maluwag,” said Beermen head coach Leo Austria, as his side improved to 1-2.
Import Charles Rhodes led San Miguel with 32 points, 19 rebounds, six blocks, and three assists.
Alex Cabagnot supplied 19 points, six assists, four steals, and three rebounds in the victory. Meanwhile, June Mar Fajardo added 12 markers on a 50-percent shooting clip from the field on top of 11 boards, five dimes, and a steal.
San Miguel did not have Terrence Romeo and Arwind Santos due to injuries.
Ray Parks had 23 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, a steal, and a block to lead Blackwater, who missed the services of import Alex Stepheson reportedly due to food poisoning. He has flown to the US to seek treatment.
Blackwater have fallen to 5-2.
The Scores:
San Miguel 127 – Rhodes 32, Lassiter 29, Cabagnot 19, Fajardo 12, Pessumal 12, Rosser 7, Zamar 8, Ross 6, Standhardinger 2.
Blackwater 106 – Parks 23, Digregorio 18, Sumang 17, Al-Hussaini 11, Maliksi 11, Javier 6, Sena 5, Tratter 5, Cortez 4, Belo 2, Banal 2, Alolino 2, Jose 0, Desiderio 0.
Quarterscores: 29-21, 62-47, 90-74, 127-106.
