MANILA – San Miguel Beermen unleashed a 51-point third quarter to topple Converge FiberXers, 112-103, in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup last night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Down by as much as 12 points in the first half and were trailing 43-50 at the half, the Beermen kicked off the third canto with connections from Jaymar Perez and Marcio Lassiter to take a 56-55 lead.
Lassiter went on to convert five more three-pointers as the Beermen pulled away to an 81-64 lead before it grew to 94-70 on baskets from Celedonio Trollano and Perez.
The Beermen went on to build their largest lead at 104-79 with connections from Lassiter and Trollano. The FiberXers made their last push but could only cut the deficit to as low as nine points.
Lassiter went on to finish with 19 points, majority coming in the second half, to go with five rebounds and three assists as the Beermen stayed on top with a 6-0 win-loss slate.
Perez led the way with a double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds, Trollano and Terrence Romeo added 19 and 18, respectively, while June Mar Fajardo tallied 14 points and 17 rebounds for SMB.
Beermen head coach Jorge Gallent said they refused to think way ahead, taking a “one game at a time” approach to their remaining matches in the elimination round.
“One game at a time. So now we think of Converge and then NorthPort (Batang Pier on Sunday). That’s the ladder,” Gallent said in a post-game interview. “So we have 11 steps (in the elimination round). After this game, we’re going to our seventh step. That’s the only thing we’re thinking of.”
Alec Stockton top-scored with 36 points, Justin Arana added 18 markers, while Bryan Santos and King Caralipio contributed 14 and 13, respectively, as the FiberXers dropped to 0-8./PN
BOX SCORE:
SAN MIGUEL 112 — Perez 25, Lassiter 19, Trollano 19, Romeo 18, Fajardo 14, Brondial 4, Tautuaa 4, Teng 4, Enciso 3, Manuel 2, Ross 0.
CONVERGE 103 — Stockton 36, Arana 18, Santos 14, Caralipio 13, Maagdenberg 6, Nieto 6, Melecio 3, Vigan-Fleming 3, Winston 2, Fornillos 2, Delos Santos 0, Ambohot 0, Zaldivar 0, Andrade 0.
Quarterscores: 20-29, 43-50, 94-70, 112-103.
