SAN Miguel welcomed Leo Austria back as its head coach with a rousing 106-88 victory over Terrafirma on Friday in the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Beermen snapped a two-game losing streak following the return of nine-time champion coach Austria replacing Jorge Gallent, who after a little over a year in charge slid down to a consultant role.
READ Leo Austria back as SMB head coach; Gallent now team consultant
Torren Jones also began his stint as San Miguel import with a victory, the Beermen’s second in four games, while dealing the Dyip their fifth defeat.
Austria got San Miguel back to its winning ways after a pulling away from a 65-64 lead, and turning the close tussle into a rout.
SMB outscored Terrafirma, 33-22, in the fourth quarter, and even led by as many as 21 points during the tailend of the contest.
Jones had 24 points and 13 rebounds in his first game since taking over the role of Quincy Miller as SMB import.
June Mar Fajardo, on the other hand, dominated with 21 points, 19 rebounds, and seven assists for the Beermen.
CJ Perez added 16 points, while Juami Tiongson added 12 points against his former team in their first game since San Miguel and Terrafirma got engaged in a trade prior to the Commissioner’s Cup.
Brandon Lee Edwards finished with 18 points and 18 rebounds, as Mark Nonoy also got 14 points for the Dyip.
Vic Manuel scored 12 points and grabbed four rebounds for Terrafirma against his ex-team.
The scores:
San Miguel 106 – Jones 24, Fajardo 21, Perez 16, Tiongson 12, Trollano 10, Lassiter 6, Rosales 6, Brondial 4, Tautuaa 4, Cahilig 3, Ross 0, Cruz 0.
Terrafirma 88 – Edwards 18, Nonoy 14, Manuel 12, Sangalang 11, Pringle 11, Melecio 7, Catapusan 6, Hanapi 5, Ferrer 4, Paraiso 0, Hernandez 0, Olivario 0, Zaldivar 0.
Quarters: 21-16; 47-39; 73-66; 106-88.
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