Marcio Lassiter wrote history in helping San Miguel get back at NLEX, 119-114, in the PBA Governors’ Cup, Wednesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Beermen’s resident sniper fired four threes and finished with 17 points as he surpassed Allan Caidic at no. 2 in the league’s all-time triples made list – inching closer and closer to overtaking Jimmy Alapag at the top.
Lassiter overtook Caidic at the 6:50-mark of the fourth quarter, listing career triple no. 1,243 to move eight away from surpassing his fellow Gilas icon.
That shot not only elevated his name on the list but proved to be crucial as well. It helped SMB to a strong finish toward creating a tie at no. 2 with Barangay Ginebra in Group B.
The perennial contenders sport similar 4-2 records.
“Just to be in this elite status is quite amazing,” said the 37-year-old winger. “I’m just truly grateful and thankful. Most importantly, get the win. That’s what we needed to do tonight. It was a great team win tonight.”
Top-scoring in the win was CJ Perez with 24 points and five rebounds, June Mar Fajardo also had 17 points, together with nine rebounds.
Don Trollano supplied 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field, while Terrence Romeo and Jericho Cruz added 13 and 10 points, respectively.
The victory also gave new import Sheldon Mac a triumphant debut.
Brought in for Jordan Adams, Mac had 16 points plus a rebound, an assist, and a steal each to help San Miguel win back-to-back games.
The Beermen will try to stretch their winning streak to three in another meeting with the winless Phoenix on Friday at 5:00 PM, still in the same venue.
Going for naught, on the other hand, was the 24-point, 15-assist effort of Robert Bolick to lead NLEX, which absorbed its third loss in a row.
The last time that the Road Warriors won was actually against the Beermen – a 112-108 overtime decision in Cagayan de Oro back on August 31.
But there was no sweep of their group phase series, with Bolick and Co. falling short in the comeback.
San Miguel calmly warded them off, with Perez himself making all four of his free throws in the final 29.7 of the game.
Despite the loss, NLEX is still at no. 4 in the group but will have to sweep its remaining games against Rain or Shine, Phoenix, and Ginebra – in that order – to make sure that it stays in the race to the top four.
So far, the crew is sharing their spot with Blackwater, as it is also at 3-4 after winning three straight before bowing to the Kings.
The Bossing chalked up win no. 3 against, coincidentally, against the Road Warriors, 110-99.
The Scores:
San Miguel 119 – Perez 24, Fajardo 17, Lassiter 17, Mac 16, Trollano 16, Romeo 13, Cruz 10, Ross 3, Tautuaa 2, Brondial 1, Rosales 0, Nava 0.
NLEX 114 – Bolick 24, Miranda 18, Henry 17, Valdez 15, Rodger 11, Amer 10, Herndon 9, Policarpio 4, Marcelo 4, Fajardo 2, Nermal 0.
Quarterscores: 27-23, 57-57, 86-92, 119-114
