Don Trollano brought immediate impact as San Miguel took down Ginebra in a rivalry affair, 95-82, to arrest its two-game losing skid in the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup, Friday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Traded by NorthPort in a multi-player trade just last Monday, the seasoned winger finished with 16 points in his debut, 12 of which he made in the second period alone as he helped the Beermen seize control of the game.
“Don is a player. He’s a veteran, so it was easy for him,” offered head coach Jorge Gallent of Trollano’s seamless adjustment with his fifth PBA team. “He helped us a lot and I’m very happy that he played well.”
But the win was by no means easy for SMB. They had to weather the Gin Kings’ furious fourth-quarter fightback that saw the reigning champions get to within just four, 79-75, after being down by as much as 24 points.
Things appeared bleak for San Miguel that time after import Ivan Aska got called for an F1 and had to sit out for three minutes, but Jericho Cruz and Chris Ross made sure that no meltdown whatsoever would take place.
The backcourt tandem connived for the decisive 13-0 run towards a 92-75 lead with 1:52 left to play, which was more than enough to get the W in the bag.
“Ginebra will always make a run, so we had to stay poised,” Gallent said. “This game is really big for us. Even before the game I told the players that this game will give us a chance to make it to the Top Four.”
Ross top-scored for San Miguel with 22 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field. Cruz finished with 16 while CJ Perez supplied 13 as the locals stepped up after Aska only made 10 points on 10 shots, eight rebounds, and three assists.
The Beermen welcomed back Terrence Romeo, who was sidelined for a few games due to a knee injury. He had nine points in his return.
SMB (4-3) will try to put together another streak as it faces TNT on Sunday, December 17, 6:15 p.m. at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Tony Bishop, meanwhile, overcame a tepid start and finished with 20 points, nine rebounds, and eight steals to lead Ginebra, which fell to its second loss. The crew is coming off an 82-77 defeat to Phoenix in Batangas.
Maverick Ahanmisi had 13 points and six rebounds. Jamie Malonzo and Von Pessumal had 11 apiece while Stanley Pringle added 10 for the Kings (4-3).
The Barangay will face another nemesis in Meralco next Friday, December 22, 8 p.m. also at the Big Dome.
The Scores:
San Miguel 95 – Ross 22, Trollano 16, Cruz 16, Perez 13, Aska 10, Romeo 9, Tautuaa 6, Lassiter 3, Brondial 0.
Ginebra 82 – Bishop 20, Ahanmisi 13, Malonzo 11, Pessumal 11, Pringle 10, J.Aguilar 6, Standhardinger 4, Tenorio 3, Onwubere 3, Cu 1, Gumaru 0.
Quarterscores: 24-22, 56-36, 73-52, 95-82.
