Beermen rally to beat Hotshots in season opener

Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

First games usually don’t mean much, but for San Miguel, it proved that it’s still the team to beat.

The Beermen stared at a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter before unleashing a flurry for a 96-88 comeback win over the Star Hotshots at the start of the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

San Miguel trailed, 86-77, early in the fourth before firing a blistering 15-0 run to overturn the game and take a 92-86 edge with 3:21 left.

The defending champions then showed their poise in the endgame with Alex Cabagnot starring late.

“I’m so happy with this result kasi nanalo kami,” said SMB head coach Leo Austria. “I have to commend those players, especially the starters like Cabagnot, dahil wala na syang ginawa kundi magpakundisyon in the offseason and he was the big difference in today’s game.”

Cabagnot fired seven of his 22 points in the fourth, on top of eight assists, two rebounds, and two steals.

Three-time MVP June Mar Fajardo paced San Miguel with 25 markers, 16 boards, three assists, and two blocks, while Arwind Santos had 17 points and five rebounds.

Austria also praised the team’s composure in the endgame.

“Nandoon pa rin talaga yun, maybe because of our experience na rin sa mga ganitong instances.”

“I was really worried sa first game namin. First games kasi namin every conference, natatalo kami. Natatalo pa kami lagi sa Mahindra, and si coach Chito (Victolero) din yung coach nila noon. Buti naman nanalo kami,” he said.

Mark Barroca topped Star with 13 points and four assists, while Paul Lee had a double-double of 12 markers and 10 boards but had nine turnovers in his Hotshots debut.

The scores:

SAN MIGUEL 96 – Fajardo 25, Cabagnot 22, Santos 17, Lassiter 11, Ross 7, Tubid 6, Espinas 5, Reyes 3, Garcia 1, Agovida 0.

STAR 88 – Barroca 13, Lee 12, Jalalon 11, Maliksi 10, Simon 9, Sangalang 8, Pingris 7, Ramos 6, Melton 6, Reavis 2, Pascual 2, Brondial 2.

Quarters: 26-24, 51-43, 75-79, 96-88