San Miguel tops defending champion Ginebra, nears PBA Finals
San Miguel Beermen Bennie Boatwright leads his team to the PBA semifinals Game 2 win. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–Using its depth once again, San Miguel on Friday night whipped defending champion Barangay Ginebra, 106-96, in Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Bennie Boatwright Jr. topscored the Beermen with 36 points built on six triples, CJ Perez and June Mar Fajardo finished with 17 each as veteran marksman Marcio Lassiter added 16 in the triumph had the powerhouse club moving at the brink of a Finals appearance.
“We just wanted to start strong because we knew that Ginebra would come out fighting. I just told the boys to match their energy which came out very good for our start. We kind of sustained it,” said head coach Jorge Gallent.
READ: SCHEDULE: PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals
San Miguel Beermen’s Marcio Lassiter catches fire in PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals Game 2. –MARLO CUETO/INQURIER.net
Lassiter converted three of his four triples in a third-quarter attack that pretty much gave the Beermen a cushion to use when the Gin Kings threatened in the payoff frame.
“Anybody can step up for us. That’s the quality … of this team,” said Lassiter.
Jamie Malonzo put up 27 points and eight rebounds to keep Ginebra in the thick of things, while import Tony Bishop Jr. added 25 and Maverick Ahanmisi 13 off the bench. Best Player of the Conference front-runner Christian Standhardinger chipped in nine and 14 in the losing effort.
Ginebra now faces the risk of being swept in this best-of-five series–something it handed its sister team in their last encounter in the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals.
“Motivation-wise it’s not there. For this team, it’s ladder by ladder. We’re now on our third,” said Gallent. “We’ll have to work hard but we want to try to finish (the series) on Sunday.”
San Miguel vs Ginebra scores
SAN MIGUEL 106 – Boatwright 38, Perez 17, Fajardo 17, Lassiter 16, Teng 7, Trollano 5, Cruz 4, Tautuaa 2, Brondial 0, Ross 0, Enciso 0.
GINEBRA 96– Malonzo 27, Bishop 25, Ahanmisi 13, Thompson 9, Standhardinger 9, Pringle 6, Pinto 5, J.Aguilar 2, Tenorio 0.
Quarterscores: 23-21, 43-46, 76-74, 106-96.
