PBA: Mahindra foils San Miguel debut

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Mahindra got back on winning track after foiling San Miguel Beer’s 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup debut, 102-96, Saturday at Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.

Veteran forward Aldrech Ramos fired 26 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the 3-point area that went with eight rebounds for the Enforcers, who rebounded from their 110-102 loss to the Blackwater Elite last Sunday.

“Very tough game for us coming from a loss. We just need that mental toughness in the end,” said Mahindra deputy Chito Victolero. “My players stepped up especially KG Canaleta in the fourth quarter.”

“Again, we need to be consistent yun ang laging nire-remind ko sa kanila the little things, boxing out, rebounds, extra pass. I am proud of my players they did a good job especially with our defense,” he added.

KG Canaleta also had the hot hand. He hit three consecutive 3-pointers in a crucial stretch in the fourth quarter that kept the Beermen at bay. Canaleta’s third triple pushed the Enforcers’ lead to seven, 93-86, with 3:22 left.

The Beermen played in their first game since their historic Philippine Cup campaign last Feb. 3 when they came back from a 3-0 series deficit to win the championship.

Import Tyler Wilkerson had 29 points and 13 rebounds for San Miguel Beer, which played without starting guard Alex Cabagnot. Cabagnot missed the game to be at his grandmother’s funeral.

The scores:

MAHINDRA 102 – Ramos 26, Revilla 19, Canaleta 15, Gilchrist 15, Dehesa 10, Guinto 9, Digregorio 4, Pinto 2, Yee 2, Webb 0, Jaime 0.

SAN MIGUEL 96 – Wilkerson 29, Santos 17, Lassiter 14, Arana 8, Fajardo 8, Ross 8, Heruela 5, Tubid 4, Espinas 3, Lutz 0, Reyes 0.

Quarters: 24-23, 51-45, 74-69, 102-96