Beermen coast to 5th victory

MANILA, Philippines—With too much firepower, San Miguel Beer on Monday night overwhelmed Globalport, 109-92, to keep the race for the top two slots a tight one while shoving the Batang Pier closer to elimination in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Beermen didn’t have much trouble breaking away late in the third period and winning for the third straight game, their fifth in six games overall, while keeping the Batang Pier winless also in six starts.

San Miguel stayed well within striking distance of the leaders—the 6-0 Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters—and the 3-0 San Mig Coffee Mixers—as the Beermen gear up for the final three weeks of the eliminations seeking to bag a twice-to-beat privilege in the first round of the playoffs.

Globalport was shoved closer to elimination with their worst start in five conferences. Only two teams will get the boot.

Kevin Jones scored 30 points and had 19 rebounds, Arwind Santos had 18 and 10 and four more scored in twin digits for San Miguel, which led right from the start.

Jay Washington tossed in 22 markers and Evan Brock had 20 points and 16 boards for Globalport.

“There’s no way we’re near 100 percent,” San Miguel Beer assistant Todd Purves told reporters. “We have a couple of guys fighting through injuries and gutting it out.”

THE SCORES:

SAN MIGUEL BEER 109—Jones 30, Santos 18, Lassiter 16, Ross 12, Fajardo 11, Mercado 10, Lutz 6, Kramer 5, Duncil 1, Marata 0, Tubid 0, Taha 0, Hubalde 0.

GLOBALPORT 92—Washington 22, Brock 20, Garcia 17, Romeo 13, Matias 8, Cabagnot 7, Nabong 3, Custodio 2, Hayes 0, Salva 0, Salvador 0, Macapagal 0.

Quarters: 26-20, 47-42, 74-64, 109-92