Petron blazes past San Mig Coffee for its first win

Renaldo Balkman vs Rafi Reavis and Mark Barroca PBA IMAGE / Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines—Renaldo Balkman scored 28 points to lead Petron Blaze to a 98-73 rout of San Mig Coffee, Wednesday night in the 2013 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Balkman, a first round pick by the New York Knicks in the 2006 NBA Draft, also hauled down 15 rebounds and dished out five assists as the Boosters barged into the win column after losing to GlobalPort,92-94, in the opener last Friday.

The Mixers absorbed their second straight setback in as many stints despite unveiling import Matt Rogers, who didn’t play in San Mig Coffee’s 75-79 defeat to Barako Bull due to food poisoning.

James Yap had 25 points while Rogers added 20 points but it was all Petron Blaze after it broke loose from a close game in the second quarter behind Balkman.

The six-foot-eight Balkman sparked the Boosters’ second-quarter run, stretching what was only a six-point lead after the first quarter to a 26-point gap, 48-22, by halftime on a buzzer-beating basket by Balkman.

The Mixers never recovered as the Boosters sustained their form in the second half. Marcio Lassiter set up Balkman for the dunk that pushed Petron’s advantage back to 25, 64-39, after Marc Pingris’ short stab that cut the lead to 19.

The scores:

PETRON 98 – Balkman 28, Wahington 17, Cabagnot 15, Lassiter 9, Fajardo 8, Miranda 8, Santos 7, Tubid 4, Faundo 2, Lanete 0, Pena 0.

SANMIG COFFEE 73 – Yap 25, Rogers 20, Simon 8, Devance 7, Pingris 7, Najorda 3, Barroca 2, Mallari 1, Alvarez 0, Reavis 0, De Ocampo 0

Quarters: 20-14, 48-22, 70-49, 98-73