San Miguel swingman Marcio Lassiter shoots a 3-pointer against Barangay Ginebra.–PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines–Marcio Lassiter stepped into his date with destiny on Sunday night, and the rest of San Miguel’s crew made sure he had the perfect backdrop.
The Beermen cut Barangay Ginebra down to size, 131-82, to assure themselves a quarterfinals berth in the PBA Governors’ Cup while its veteran sniper broke the record for the league’s all-time career triples made before a thick crowd at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Lassiter hurriedly eclipsed Jimmy Alapag’s eight-year record on the way to finishing 18 points that backstopped June Mar Fajardo’s team-highs of 24 points and 17 rebounds, and CJ Perez’s 22 points and Terrence Romeo’s 14. San Miguel’s stud of an import Jordan Adams chipped in 12 points, hardly needing to score with the locals shooting so well.
READ: Marcio Lassiter sets PBA all-time 3-point record
“My teammates. I definitely couldn’t do this without my teammates from the past and right now. They’ve helped me out so much,” Lassiter said. “I’m just truly honored and blessed to be in this position. Words cannot describe what I feel.
“At the start, it was all energy. That’s what the players said before (we took the floor). We wanted Marcio to get this off his back. He’s had six tonight. I’m very happy for him and I’m very blessed to be his coach,” said head coach Jorge Gallent.
The Beermen improved to 6-2 in Group B, taking leadership of the pool race with two more elimination games left to play.
READ: PBA: San Miguel beats Phoenix as Jordan Adams scores 49 in return
San Miguel’s dominance also set a new franchise record, as it was the most lopsided win throughout the club’s PBA existence.
RJ Abarrientos had 19 points, Justin Brownlee 16, while Japeth Aguilar and Scottie Thompson added twin-digit scores each as Barangay Ginebra dropped to 5-3 and absorbed its worst beating in franchise history.
San Miguel plays Rain or Shine, while Barangay Ginebra tackles Phoenix in their next respective assignments.