San Miguel import Diamond Stone. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines–Diamond Stone rebounded from a sluggish debut and dropped 42 points to help San Miguel Beer fend off Rain or Shine, 113-105, for its first win in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Stone displayed the skills that made San Miguel management feel why he is suitable last-minute replacement to the injured Thomas Robinson as the Beermen atoned for their stunning collapse against the Blackwater Bossing last Wednesday.
“I’m happy for him because he seemed to have realized that he has to perform,” Beermen coach Leo Austria said of Stone, who arrived earlier in the week after Robinson went down with a back injury.
Stone produced 20 points and eight rebounds but the Beermen lost a big lead and fell 109-106 to the Bossing, the latter’s first win against this season’s Philippine Cup champions since 2018.
June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez combined for 17 points in the fourth to provide Stone some aid to give San Miguel a victory in the contest that had 16 lead changes.
Fajardo scored 21 points and Perez had 13 during a back-and-forth and testy affair against coach Yeng Guiao and his young Rain or Shine core.
Import Steve Taylor Jr’s 20 points and Rey Nambatac’s 19 were among the seven Rain or Shine players in double figures but the Elasto Painters dropped to 2-2.
The scores:
SAN MIGUEL 113 — Stone 42, Fajardo 21, Perez 13, Herndon 8, Cruz 7, Manuel 7, Enciso 6, Lassiter 6, Ross 3, Tautuaa 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 105 — Taylor Jr. 20, Nambatac 19, Santillan 15, Mamuyac 13, Caracut 11, Asistio 11, Ponferrada 10, Belga 3, Demusis 3, Norwood 0, Borboran 0.
Quarters: 29-24, 61-59, 85-85, 113-105.