San Miguel opened its PBA Philippine Cup title defense bid with a 109-97 rout of the luckless Rain or Shine, Friday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Beermen erupted for 67 big points in the middle quarters to set up the romp and then finished strongly on the way to a rousing conference debut while dealing the Elasto Painters their fourth loss in as many outings.
“The players are all locked in now and they know what this game meant,” said head coach Jorge Gallent. “This is our first game of the conference and it’s really good to start on a winning note, and they just played hard today.”
Jericho Cruz finished with 20 points to lead the balanced attack as SMB showed how well-rested they are after conquering the Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup last February that saw them finish Magnolia in six games.
Marcio Lassiter was on point from deep with five three-pointers and ended up with 17 points, together with four rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Don Trollano flirted with a double-double with 15 points and nine boards.
June Mar Fajardo made 15 points and 10 rebounds in his first game back since Game 6 of the aforementioned title series, now recovered from a calf injury that kept him out of Gilas in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers’ first window.
Terrence Romeo added 13 points, three rebounds, and six assists as a total of five Beermen finished in double figures in the triumph.
The lopsided result wasted the efforts of Santi Santillan, who finished with career-highs of 31 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Elasto Painters.
Beau Belga and Jhonard Clarito backed him up with 18 points apiece for a side that will miss Keith Datu indefinitely due to an MCL sprain.
Still, Rain or Shine fought gallantly, managing to cut the deficit to only 96-85 behind Santillan’s bucket early in the fourth quarter.
But Fajardo responded with a three-pointer, which sparked an 11-2 rally to push their lead to 107-87 to arrest the rally with 3:43 left to play.
Both teams will return to action on Sunday, March 17, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. SMB will face TNT (2-1) in a rivalry affair at 6:15 p.m. in the double-header offering to be opened by RoS and Phoenix (1-2) at 3 p.m.
The Scores:
San Miguel 109 – Cruz 20, Lassiter 17, Trollano 16, Fajardo 15, Romeo 13, Tautuaa 7, Perez 7, Teng 6, Brondial 5, Enciso 3, Ross 0, Manuel 0.
Rain or Shine 97 – Santillan 31, Belga 18, Clarito 18, Caracut 9, Mamuyac 9, Belo 5, Nocum 3, Nocum 2, Demusis 2, Concepcion 0, Norwood 0, Asistio 0.
Quarterscores: 24-22, 56-45, 91-73, 109-97.
