SAN Miguel sent Barangay Ginebra to the ropes with a 106-96 win in Game Two of their PBA 48th Season Commissioner's Cup semifinal series at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Bennie Boatwright, CJ Perez, and Marcio Lassiter nailed crucial shots in the endgame to lift the Beermen to a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five series on Friday night.
SMB can oust the reigning champions in Game Three on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
June Mar Fajardo came up big on both ends of the floor while Jeron Teng provided quality minutes for the Beermen, who are aiming for their 29th league title.
The Beermen actually started the game with a 10-0 run, and eventually held on when their big guns delivered the goods.
“We just want to start strong because we knew Ginebra will come out fighting. I just told the boys to try to dictate the tempo of the game and match their energy which came out very good for our start,” said SMB coach Jorge Gallent.
Boatwright tallied 38 points and nine rebounds, including a three that pushed San Miguel’s lead to 99-93 with 1:43 left in the game.
Before Boatwright’s three, Lassiter also knocked down a three for a 94-88 lead as San Miguel found an answer for every single Ginebra run in the endgame.
Perez had 17 points and seven rebounds, while Fajardo added 17 points, 14 rebounds, and a career-high six blocks for San Miguel.
Teng supplied seven points and two assists in just eight minutes in what was easily his best performance since signing with San Miguel this season.
Jamie Malonzo topscored with 27 points for Ginebra, which kept Game Two tied at 83-83 midway through the fourth quarter but just couldn't make the big plays.
The scores:
San Miguel 106 – Boatwright 38, Fajardo 17, Perez 17, Lassiter 16, Teng 7, Trollano 5, Cruz 4, Tautuaa 2, Ross 0, Brondial 0.
Barangay Ginebra 96 – Malonzo 27, Bishop 25, Ahanmisi 13, Thompson 9, Standhardinger 9, Pringle 6, Pinto 5, Aguilar 2, Tenorio 0..
Quarters: 23-21; 43-46; 76-74; 106-96.
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