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PLAYING spoiler yet again, San Miguel Beer foiled Meralco’s bid to set a franchise best start with a 94-86 triumph in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at Ibalong Centrum for Recreation in Legazpi City.
Tyler Wilkerson bucked early foul troubles to finish with 27 points and lead the Beermen in snapping the Bolts’ perfect five-game run, a repeat of the same conference last year where San Miguel also dealt Meralco its first loss after a 5-0 start.
The Beermen streaked to their third straight victory after a shock opening loss to Mahindra for a share of second place with Alaska at 3-1.
“Three in a row is a good thing for us because we didn’t have a good first game,” San Miguel coach Leo Austria said after the Petron Saturday Special road game.
Gabby Espinas, who helped the Beermen pull away from a 72-72 deadlock in the last eight minutes, chipped in 13 points.
Action returns to Smart Araneta Coliseum today with Star unveiling a new import in Ricardo Ratliffe versus Talk ’N Text in their 5:15 p.m. match.
Despite having just a day of practice, Ratliffe hopes to help the Hotshots climb out of the cellar, where coach Jason Webb’s wards only have a win to show in five outings.
Ratliffe replaced Denzel Bowles, the former PBA import who returned home due to a death in the family.
Blackwater and Glopalport—locked in a five-way tie at 3-2 with the Tropang Texters and idle Rain or Shine and NLEX—collide in the first game at 3 p.m.
The 6-foot-8 Ratliffe, the Most Valuable Player in the 2014 Jones Cup, recently saw action with the Seoul Samsung Thunder in the Korean Basketball League.
The scores:
SAN MIGUEL 94—Wilkerson 27, Espinas 13, Cabagnot 10, Lassiter 10, Fajardo 9, Ross 9, Santos 7, Arana 5, Lutz 4, Reyes 0, Semerad 0, De Ocampo 0.
MERALCO 86—Onuaku 28, David 12, Faundo 8, Newsome 8, Buenafe 6, Dillinger 6, Hodge 4, Hugnatan 4, Alapag 2, Amer 2, Bono 2, Caram 2, Nabong 2.
Quarters: 19-13, 44-44, 62-63, 94-86