The San Miguel Beermen displayed their championship form and dismantled the Magnolia Hotshots, 111-87, to take a 2-1 series lead in the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup Finals, Sunday evening at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Marcio Lassiter led San Miguel with 24 points, six rebounds, and five steals, and June Mar Fajardo supplied 21 markers and 17 rebounds. Chris Ross and Arwind Santos chipped in 14 markers apiece, with the latter adding five blocks.
“Yung one-week break worked in our favor, and we’re able to recharge and to focus and recuperate from minor injuries, especially Marcio and Chris Ross, who are suffering a lot of bangaan inside,” said head coach Leo Austria.
San Miguel’s starters definitely did their job, but it was their bench mob that provided the spark. Brian Heruela led the second unit with 11 points, Gabby Espinas had nine, and Matt Ganuelas-Rosser scored five and had six boards.
Moreover, the three bench players were on the floor for the Beermen in the fourth quarter, and played a huge role in their 17-3 blitzkrieg for a 92-71 advantage with 6:18 left to play — more than enough to knock the Hotshots out cold.
“The key here is we’re able to match their energy. That is because of our second unit. The second unit at the start of the fourth quarter, sila ang nag-trabaho that’s why I opted to let them stay until the last minutes,” Austria lauded.
“I think if they keep on stepping up every game, I’m confident na every game pwede kami manalo,” he added.
Mark Barroca paced the Hotshots with 22 points, four rebounds, and three steals. Aldrech Ramos had 12 markers, while veteran PJ Simon provided 10 points, which he all scored in the 7:45 minutes he played in the first half.
Paul Lee was Magnolia’s second-best scorer with 15 markers, but his status in the coming games has now been clouded with uncertainties, as he apparently injured his right hand with 9:10 remaining in the payoff period.
Lee did not return to the game.
The Beermen will look to post a commanding 3-1 lead in Game Four on Wednesday, April 4, 7:00 PM still at the Big Dome.
The Scores:
San Miguel 111 — Lassiter 24, Fajardo 21, Ross 14, Santos 14, Heruela 11, Espinas 9, Cabagnot 5, Ganuelas-Rosser 5, Pessumal 4, Semerad 2, Vigil 2, Lanete 0, Mamaril 0.
Magnolia 87 — Barroca 22, Lee 15, Ramos 12, Simon 10, Dela Rosa 6, Gamalinda 6, Jalalon 6, Sangalang 6, Brondial 0, Herndon 0, Mendoza 0, Pascual 0.
Quarterscores: 29-22, 50-49, 75-68, 111-87.
