PHOTO BY TRISTAN TAMAYO / INQUIRER.net
The night was supposed to be all about Christian Standhardinger’s debut with the San Miguel Beermen. Baser Amer made it all about him.
The gutsy guard hit the big shots of the game and teamed up with Chris Newsome to give the Beermen’s backcourt the fits as Meralco pulled off a 93-85 stunner Wednesday night in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Mall of Asia Arena.
Amer finished with 28 points—including 13 in the last six minutes of the game—and Newsome added 23 as the duo ruined Standhardinger’s debut with their game-long brilliance.
“They’re already the best team in the league and we’re glad we caught them in their first game while they’re struggling with their rotation,” said Meralco coach Norman Black.
Five Beermen punched in double figures, led by Troy Gillenwater’s 19 points, but Standhardinger, the No. 1 pick in this season’s rookie draft, managed just four points as he struggled to find his spot in the Beermen’s system.
Meanwhile, coach Ricky Dandan’s high regard for John Fields despite the humiliating loss by Columbian Dyip last time out must have been amplified by now.
Fields drove the Dyip to a 104-96 victory over the erstwhile unbeaten Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters in the earlier game.
“That 31-point loss was embarrassing. Everybody in the locker room was so embarrassed, so we have to rectify it with a W,” said Fields after another monster game of 34 points on 13 of 17 shooting, 11 rebounds and five assists.
Unlike in that humbling Alaska blowout, Fields got complementary scoring from the local crew this time as guards Rashawn McCarthy and Jeremy King found their range.
McCarthy hit six triples for 23 points while King, who drew defenders that left Fields with more room to operate, had 13 points in a contest that the Dyip controlled most of the way.
They doubled on Reggie Johnson down low in the closing minutes, frustrating the bulky 6-foot-9 big man en route to the first defeat of the Elasto Painters in four games this conference.
“Beating an undefeated team feels great. As an import, my job is to set the tone and I told my teammates that I’m serious about winning,” said Fields.
Johnson still came up with 30 points and 17 rebounds before the Columbian defensive blanket threw him out of rhythm.
Raymond Almazan was effective in the paint, finishing with 16 points and 14 rebounds, eight of them offensive boards, but the aggressiveness of the Dyip practically negated Rain or Shine’s size advantage.
Hailed by Dandan as a perfect fit for the Dyip, Fields said their team chemistry is still a work in progress.