MANILA – San Miguel Beermen opened their drive for a grand slam with a 130-119 annihilation of Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters in the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Dezmine Wells tallied 42 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Alex Cabagnot added 23 markers while June Mar Fajardo and Arwind Santos had 18 and 17 markers, respectively.
From a tightly-contested opening quarter, the Beermen leaned on consecutive points by Wells to build a 51-38 edge.
The Fuel Masters rallied to within 46-53 but the Beermen came up with triples from Cabagnot and Santos for a 70-55 halftime edge.
The Fuel Masters went on a rally early in the third to trim the deficit to 75-79 but the Beermen responded with a run from Santos, Cabagnot and Wells to increase the lead to 105-83.
San Miguel went for the kill in the final period as consecutive inside points from Fajardo increased their lead to 113-96. Phoenix attempted a late rally but could only come to as close as 11 points.
Eugene Phelps finished with double-double 41 points and 22 rebounds while Matthew Wright and Jason Perkins added 18 and 14 points, respectively, as the Fuel Masters dropped to 0-2.
In the curtain raiser, Commissioner’s Cup second placer TNT KaTropa also kicked off its campaign on a winning note via a 135-107 domination over the Blackwater Elite.
The KaTropa leaned on the exploits of KJ McDaniels in the opening period to establish a 53-30 edge.
The Elite would trim the deficit to 10 but the KaTropa pulled away anew in the second half to establish a huge 32-point edge.
McDaniels flirted with triple-double with 41 point, 22 rebounds and seven assists while Roger Pogoy chipped in 18 markers for the KaTropa (1-0).
Bobby Ray Parks
Jr. tallied career-high 39 points for the Elite (0-1)./PN
