ANTIPOLO – San Miguel continued to run roughshod over the competition after dealing Terrafirma a 122-102 beatdown for its third win in as many games in the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup, Friday at the Ynares Center here.
The Beermen actually started slow which saw them trail by a field goal at the end of the game’s first 12 minutes, but regained their bearings back in the next period and erupted for 38 points to seize control of the game for good.
SMB, who’s beaten its foes by an average of 20.0 points, has now joined another 3-0 team in NLEX at the second spot of the team standings.
“That’s always gonna happen. We’re not invincible. They started strong and we started flat. But the best thing about it is after three or four minutes, we just woke up,” offered head coach Jorge Gallent.
Cameron Clark submitted his best performance of the conference to date with 31 points, including 15 in the first half, and 14 rebounds, together with four assists, a steal, and three blocks to lead San Miguel.
“Perfect,” Gallent said when asked how Clark has been fitting in with the loaded crew. “He does everything for us — he gets the rebounds, he guards the other imports, he knows when to shoot the ball. He’s filling his role perfectly.”
CJ Perez finished with 20 points, four rebounds, and five assists. Mo Tautua’a flirted with a double-double with 17 points and eight boards.
New kid Allyn Bulanadi was solid once more with 14 points and four rebounds off the bench, while Marcio Lassiter chipped in 12 markers on two treys as five players finished in twin digits in what’s becoming a trend for the squad.
“Maybe we’re just playing as a unit. I always tell the team to play as one, to share the ball,” Gallent said as his wards dished out 30 assists.
San Miguel will now turn its attention on Sunday’s big test against Magnolia. Game time is at 4:30 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“It’s gonna be a tough game. This will test us on Sunday if our defense and offense are really gonna work,” Gallent said.
Jordan Williams, on the other hand, led Terrafirma with 30 points and eight rebounds in the loss, their second in three games.
Williams was also responsible for cutting a wide deficit to just seven late in the third, but it proved to be their last hurrah as Clark restored order, and the Beermen eventually coasted to the 20-point victory.
Juami Tiongson finished with 20 points, Eric Camson supplied 18, while Alex Cabagnot added 10 markers in his first-ever meeting against his old team since being traded to the ball club prior to the 2021 Governors’ Cup.
The Dyip will look to bounce back against Blackwater on Thursday, February 9, 4:30 p.m. also at the Big Dome.
The Scores:
San Miguel 122 – Clark 31, Perez 20, Tautuaa 17, Bulanadi 14, Lassiter 12, Cruz 9, Fajardo 6, Ross 6, Brondial 4, Enciso 3, Canete 0.
Terrafirma 102 – J.Williams 30, Tiongson 20, Camson 18, Cabagnot 10, Calvo 7, Gabayni 6, Ramos 4, Ferrer 3, Daquioag 2, Gomez de Liano 2, Mina 0, Cahilig 0, Alolino 0.
Quarterscores: 19-21, 57-44, 88-78, 122-102.
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The second game of each PBA gameday is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
