ARWIND Santos of San Miguel Beer (left) soars for a layup against Barako Bull’s Carlo Lastimosa. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
MANILA, Philippines — San Mig Coffee rolled to a third consecutive win Saturday night, dealing Rain or Shine its worst beating in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations with a 91-74 rout at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
The Mixers peeled away from the Elasto Painters late in the opening frame with fluid ball movement and no-nonsense defense as they stayed well within striking distance of league-leader Talk ‘N Text in the race for a twice-to-beat slot.
James Mays scored 18 points and had 15 rebounds, Peter June Simon tossed in 16 and Marc Pingris was good for 10 as the Mixers, who also mastered Rain or Shine in the Philippine Cup Finals, won this one with plenty to spare.
“We had a little bit of everything going for us tonight,” said San Mig coach Tim Cone, who is looking for a third straight title. “Everyone was contributing for us out there. We played hard and muscled them inside.”
Alexander McLean paced the Painters with 18 points with Paul Lee shooting 12.
Talk ‘N Text is on top of the heap with a 5-0 record, while San Miguel Beer, which won a second straight game earlier after holding off Barako Bull, 106-100, is third at 4-1.
Kevin Jones drained 28 points, Marcio Lassiter added 19 and June Mar Fajardo showed that he’s nearing top form again after shooting 15 points and collaring 11 rebounds for the Beermen.
Barako Bull lost for the ninth straight game against the Beermen whenever the 6-foot-10 Fajardo is in the lineup and the Energy, who fought it out tooth-and-nail all game, dropped to 1-4.
Josh Dollard fired a PBA career-best 46 points and Mick Pennisi contributed 16 for the Energy, who need to string wins in their last four assignments to make it past this round.
The scores:
First Game
SAN MIGUEL BEER 106—Jones 28, Lassiter 19, Santos 16, Fajardo 15, Hubalde 13, Mercado 7, Ross 3, Kramer 2, Maierhofer 0, Tubid 0.
BARAKO BULL 100—Dollard 46, Pennisi 16, Fortuna 11, Buenafe 11, Wilson 6, Lastimosa 4, Isip 2, Pena 2, Miranda 2, Jensen 0, Miller 0, Marcelo 0, Intal 0.
Quarters: 29-19, 51-43, 81-74, 106-100
Second Game
SAN MIG COFFEE 91—Mays 18, Simon 16, Pingris 10, Sanggalang 9, Yap 9, Devance 7, Mallari 7, Barroca 5, Reavis 3,
Melton 3, Gaco 2, Holstein 2, Acuna 0, Cawaling 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 74—McLean 18, Lee 12, Norwood 9, Chan 7, Teng 7, Uyloan 6, Almazan 5, Rodriguez 4, Belga 2, Cruz 2, Tiu 2, Tang 0, Nuyles 0, Ibañes 0.
Quarters: 28-19, 45-37, 70-51, 91-74.
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