San Miguel finally laid its harrowing skid to rest by keeping TNT winless in the PBA On Tour, 111-74, Friday night at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
A team that hasn’t won since June 4, the Beermen vented all their frustrations on the Tropang Giga beginning with a big second quarter to eventually end their five-game slide, where they lost just by an average margin of 3.4 points.
“Finally we got out of that,” exhaled head coach Jorge Gallent post-game. “We played together now and we just learned from our mistakes.”
Marvin Lee finished with 22 points, spiked by five three-pointers, to lead SMB in just its third win in nine outings thus far in the preseason tournament.
Allyn Bulanadi made 20 points and seven rebounds. Jericho Cruz also had 20, although he wasn’t able to finish the game as he got ejected due to an F2 infraction following a physical loose ball battle with Paul Varilla.
Rodney Brondial produced yet another double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Beermen, who led by as much as 41, 102-61.
San Miguel (3-6) now only has two remaining games in the On Tour, first versus Magnolia on Sunday and then against Terrafirma on July 16.
TNT, on the other hand, remained the only team without a win in the preseason tournament. It has lost all of its six games so far.
Wasted by the defeat was the 30-point effort of Jaydee Tungcab, as well as the 21 markers and eight rebounds of seasoned big man Carl Cruz. The two carried the fight for a side that played with only eight players.
The Tropang Giga will try to notch win no. 1 against Rain or Shine on July 12, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. also at Ynares-Pasig.
The Scores:
San Miguel 111 – Lee 22, Bulanadi 20, Cruz 20, Brondial 17, Javelona 9, Faundo 6, Dela Cruz 6, Baclao 4, De Vera 3, Apacible 2, Lazarte 2
TNT 74 – Tungcab 30, Cruz 21, Alfaro 8, Jopia 5, Montalbo 4, Varilla 4, Marcelo 2, Cuntapay 0.
Quarterscores: 29-23, 55-36, 83-56, 111-74.
