SAN Miguel went on a shooting spree in the first half then survived a late scare from Magnolia Chicken Timplados, 103-95, on Friday in Game One of the PBA 48th season Commissioner’s Cup at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Bennie Boatwright and Marcio Lassiter capped the second period with three straight three-pointers, highlighting a fiery 41-point second quarter that enabled the quickfire Beermen to take 61-44 halftime lead.
Except for the endgame where the Hotshots' second-stringers pulled within five, the Beermen were very much in control at the start of the best-of-seven championship series between sister teams that they are favored to win.
The PBA Finals resumes with Game Two on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“When you play a tough team like Magnolia, you have to play 48 minutes,” said San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent. “It was good that we didn’t panic.”
The Beermen were on fire in the first half, nailing nine of 18 shots from three-point land while limiting the Hotshots to just one. San Miguel also shot 54 percent in the first half, leaving its opponent to play catch-up the rest of the way.
San Miguel has now won 10 straight games, with Boatwright still undefeated in eight since he came in as a replacement import for Ivan Aska during the eliminations.
Magnolia suffered the Game One defeat just two days after ousting Phoenix Super LPG in Game Four of their semifinal series.
Boatwright had 28 points, 16 rebounds, and two blocks, while Lassiter had 16 points behind a 4-of-5 clip from beyond the three-point arc for San Miguel.
CJ Perez also had a solid Game One with 19 points and three steals for the Beermen, who were already up, 94-74, before that fiery Hotshots comeback against mostly SMB second-stringers.
June Mar Fajardo had 11 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks for San Miguel.
Tyler Bey finished with 26 points and 15 rebounds, while Mark Barroca had 16 points, but Magnolia sorely missed the offensive presence of Jio Jalalon and Paul Lee, who combined for 14 points.
Jalalon though had 11 rebounds and 12 assists in the game although he only shot 4-of-14 from the field. Calvin Abueva had six points and did no better with a 2-of-10 clip.
The scores:
San Miguel 103 – Boatwright 28, Perez 19, Lassiter 16, Fajardo 11, Trollano 10, Cruz 8, Romeo 5, Teng 4, Ross 2, Enciso 0, Tautuaa 0, Brondial 0.
Magnolia 95 – Bey 26, Barroca 16, Jalalon 8, Sangalang 8, Dionisio 8, Eriobu 7, Lee 6, Abueva 6, Tratter 5, Escoto 3, Laput 2, Reavis 0, Dela Rosa 0, Mendoza 0.
Quarters: 20-24; 61-44; 85-72; 103-95.
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