San Miguel zooms to Philippine Cup lead

San Miguel’s Robbie Herndon. –PBA IMAGES

Staring at a deadlocked score after three periods, San Miguel Beer—already without four key standouts—spent the fourth quarter keeping six-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo on the bench.

Turns out the Beermen could afford to.

Six players scored at least 12 points for San Miguel in a 122-106 victory over NorthPort in the PBA Philippine Cup on Saturday, with freshly-acquired gunner Robbie Herndon knocking down a career-high 21 off the bench.

“I knew eventually that I’d be able to play my game here in San Miguel,” said Herndon, who was acquired by San Miguel in a sign-and-trade deal with Converge last June. “I came to this team a little late, so I had to fast-track the process of getting accustomed to my new teammates and their new system. Nothing comes overnight so I stayed patient and positive.”

He found his game amid the shelving of some serious firepower.

The Beermen played without Mo Tautuaa, Chris Ross and Vic Manuel, all of whom are averaging in twin digits, and hotshot Terrence Romeo, who hasn’t suited up yet this season. All four are nursing a variety of injuries. Fajardo also had 21 points for the Beermen, adding nine rebounds and three assists, but he was resting on the bench when his teammates shredded a deadlock at 82 and took a 109-90 lead, 5:03 remaining in the game.

Marcio Lassiter finished with 18 points while CJ Perez added 17 with 12 assists and nine rebounds for San Miguel. The two, along with Herndon, Paul Zamar and Jericho Cruz, spearheaded the fourth quarter breakaway. Another key cog in the fourth, Rodney Brondial, finished with six points, nine rebounds and two steals.

“I think we have to maintain it that way,” coach Leo Austria said of his team finding more than adequate scoring from its bench in the absence of its stars.

That ability will come in handy as the Beermen, who own a 6-1 (win-loss) record, find themselves in a position to nab the top seed for the playoffs.

“Our next game is against TNT and that’s crucial. If we win against them, I think we’ll be [likely] getting the No. 1 or No. 2 position.”

“We have a good chance but we also don’t want to be complacent after our win tonight. We have to move on and keep on learning. Every game is a different ball game, so we need to keep adjusting,” he added of the clash set July 7.

Arwind Santos scored 25 points for NorthPort in the contest, including the fadeaway jumper at the 11:20 mark of the third period which put him in the 10,000-Point Club. He became the 17th player overall to join the elite cast.

The veteran Santos also had seven rebounds and five blocks.

Roi Sumang added 20 more for the Batang Pier who suffered their fifth straight loss and dropped to 2-5 overall.

Meanwhile, Carl Tamayo’s situation will be a concern when the Philippines faces India in a Fiba (International Basketball Federation) World Cup qualifying match on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Game time is at 7 p.m.

Chot Reyes, the national cage program’s director, said Tamayo remains uncertain for game day.

“Game-time decision. But he practiced today. Although it was only a light practice,” he told the Inquirer in a short exchange.