MANILA – San Miguel Beermen survived an early scare from NLEX Road Warriors to score a 125-114 victory in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Calasiao Sports Complex in Calasiao, Pangasinan.
June Mar Fajardo led the way with double-double 30 points and 13 rebounds.
Marcio Lassiter added 26 markers, including six three-point conversions for the Beermen, which improved to 5-4 win-loss slate.
Import Renaldo Balkman also chipped in double-double 25 points and 16 rebounds while Alex Cabagnot and Chris Ross had 17 and 12 points, respectively, for the defending champions.
The Beermen started the game flat and were down by as much as eight points on three-point conversions by Road Warriors’ Asi Taulava before regaining its form late in the second quarter behind Lassiter for a 65-55 score.
The Road Warriors threatened to within 79-83 in the third canto when Lassiter unleashed consecutive baskets to increase the Beermen’s lead to 97-85 on inside hits by Fajardo.
The Beermen went on to build its largest lead at 105-90 on a layup by Arwind Santos but the Road Warriors had its last run at 110-118 before the Beermen sealed the win with shots from Balkman and Cabagnot.
Arnett Moultrie finished with double-double 43 points and 13 rebounds, while Taulava added 18 markers, including 5-of-8 shooting from the three point line, for the Road Warriors.
With the loss, the Road Warriors bowed out of playoff contention with its 2-8 win-loss card.
The Road Warriors were undermanned in the game with llonggo Kiefer Ravena serving an 18 month suspension and guards Kevin Alas and Larry Fonacier out for the conference with injuries.
BOX SCORE:
SAN MIGUEL 125 – Fajardo 30, Lassiter 26, Balkman 25, Cabagnot 17, Ross 12, Santos 4, Heruela 4, Ganuelas-Rosser 3, Mamaril 2, Nabong 2, Pessumal 0.
NLEX 114 – Moultrie 43, Taulava 18, Tiongson 8, Baguio 7, Ighalo 6, Tallo 6, Quinahan 6, Rios 5, Uyloan 5, Soyud 5, Buenafe 3, Gotladera 2, Marcelo 0.
Quarterscores: 31-34, 65-55, 97-85, 125-114./PN
