Beermen boost bid for No. 2

MANILA, Philippines — In command all night, San Miguel Beer crushed San Mig Coffee, 97-88, and closed in on the second twice-to-beat privilege in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Kevin Jones scored 26 points on top of 16 rebounds and Marcio Lassiter had 19 points built around a 3-of-6 clip from beyond the arc as the Beermen never lost the lead after ending the first quarter with a 25-23 advantage.

In rising to 6-2 overall, the Beermen bounced back from their second loss at the hands of Alaska two weeks ago in Biñan, Laguna.

The Aces are still in the hunt for the second twice-to-beat privilege and could gain a playoff if the Beermen drop their last game and Alaska sweeps its remaining two assignments.

With a 4-3 record, the Aces and the Mixers can still tie the Beermen for second at 6-3 and a playoff between the two teams with the best quotient will be held.

Alaska starts that sweep bid at 5:15 p.m. Sunday when it slugs it out with Barangay Ginebra as action returns to Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“I didn’t know how we would come out after two weeks and from our worst shooting this conference,” San Miguel assistant Todd Purves said. “We were mentally tough enough to come back against an outstanding team.”

Chris Ross scored all of his 16 points in the first three periods and was the point guard on the floor when the Beermen posted an 18-point lead in the third period.

The Mixers dropped to 4-3 and slid into a tie with the Aces.

San Mig’s bid against the Beermen wasn’t helped by a back injury suffered by main defender Marc Pingris in the second quarter.

Idle Talk ‘N Text swept the eliminations with a 9-0 record Friday, but bagged No. 1 seeding even before the All-Star break last week.

The Tropang Texters will be clashing with No. 8 in the first round of the playoffs, needing to win just once to make the Final Four.

Barako Bull, meanwhile, will try to keep its wafer-thin chances alive when it slugs it out with ousted Globalport in Sunday’s first game at 3 p.m.

Toting a 2-6 record, a win would still not guarantee the Energy safe passage since Ginebra, Air21 and Rain or Shine can all win at least four games and knock Barako Bull out of contention.

The scores:

SAN MIGUEL BEER 97—Jones 26, Lassiter 19, Ross 16, Fajardo 15, Kramer 8, Santos 7, Tubid 5, Mercado 1, Duncil 0, Hubalde 0, Lutz 0.

SAN MIG COFFEE 88—Mays 15, Simon 15, Sangalang 13, Devance 12, Barroca 11, Yap 9, Pingris 6, De Ocampo 2, Mallari 2, Reavis 2, Melton 1.

Quarters: 25-23, 50-42, 78-69, 97-88