PBA IMAGES
Charles Rhodes took charge in the fourth period and helped San Miguel clinch the top two seed in the 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup with a 112-101 victory over GlobalPort Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The enigmatic reinforcement unloaded 19 of his 34 points in the payoff period, wile also hauling down five rebounds and two assists to quash the Batang Pier’s belated rally.
“I’m happy to see for the first time that our import didn’t get to early foul trouble,” said coach Leo Austria of Rhodes.
Chris Ross added 17 markers, seven assists, six boards, and two steals, while June Mar Fajardo came off the bench and registered 15 points, eight rebounds, and three dimes despite playing through his stiff neck.
Alex Cabagnot nabbed a double-double of 13 markers and 10 boards, while Marcio Lassiter and Arwind Santos both wound up with 13 points each.
Finishing the eliminations with a 9-2 card, the Beermen have secured a twice-to-beat edge in the quarterfinals but they still await their playoff seeding depending on the Ginebra-Mahindra duel.
“I told the boys that this is the start of our best-of-three series. I’m glad that they responded and we now have one going to the quarterfinals,” said Austria, as San Miguel braces for a date against either Alaska or Phoenix.
GlobalPort dropped to 4-7 and reeled to the eighth-seed playoff, either again the Aces or the Fuel Master, depending on the result of the second game. The knockout game is slated on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Justin Harper topped the Batang Pier with 25 points and 12 rebounds, while Stanley Pringle chipped in 21 markers, nine boards, and five assists.
Terrence Romeo had 21 points, seven assists, and six boards, and Bradwyn Guinto had 11.
Aside from those four, coach Franz Pumaren had little to no support from the rest of GlobalPort in its last elimination game.
The Scores:
SAN MIGUEL 112 – Rhodes 34, Ross 17, Fajardo 15, Cabagnot 13, Lassiter 13, Santos 13, Reyes 4, Tubid 3, Heruela 0, Espinas 0.
GLOBALPORT 101 – Harper 25, Pringle 21, Romeo 21, Guinto 11, Anthony 9, Pessumal 5, Cortez 4, Ababou 3, Grey 2, Forrester 0, Pennisi 0, Maierhofer 0, Mamaril 0, Paredes 0.
Quarters: 32-21, 51-46, 77-72, 112-101.