SAN Miguel gave its playoff chances a timely boost with an important 103-92 win over Meralco on Tuesday in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Don Trollano made key plays in his return from injury to help the Beermen improve to a 5-5 win-loss record, moving up to seventh place and staying a game ahead of ninth-ranked Converge (4-6).
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June Mar Fajardo had 19 points and 17 rebounds, Bennie Boatwright scored 16 points on a woeful 5-of-20 shooting while hauling 11 rebounds as the Beermen bounced back from their 126-120 loss to Blackwater last Wednesday.
With Boatwright not his usual self shooting-wise, Trollano took charge. A four-point shot swelled San Miguel's lead to 90-79. Moments later, Chris Ross knocked down a three for the Beermen's biggest lead at 93-80.
San Miguel started out sluggish, trailing 19-2 to start the game against a Meralco team that was playing for the first time after 11 days.
“That's one thing that we want to arrest, our slow start. But we have to understand that Meralco is coming off an 11-day break before this game. We know that they will be energetic, and that's what happened in the first quarter,” said SMB coach Leo Austria.
"Luckily, yung sense of urgency ng team ay hindi nawala," Austria added.
Meralco stayed in fifth place with a 5-3 win-loss record, but lost an opportunity to go inside the Top Four where a twice-to-beat advantage awaits.
Marvin Jones scored a game-high 26 points, including a dunk which cut the deficit to four, 96-92, with 1:08 to go. But Boatwright got fouled in the next SMB play and knocked down two free throws to widen the gap to six.
The scores:
San Miguel 103 – Fajardo 19, Boatwright 16, Trollano 16, Perez 14, Tautuaa 12, Ross 9, Cruz 7, Rosales 5, Lassiter 3, Tiongson 2.
Meralco 92 – Jones 26, Newsome 18, Cansino 12, Banchero 12, Mocon 9, Hodge 6, Brickman 4, Quinto 4, Bates 1, Black 0, Pascual 0.
Quarters: 24-28; 48-55; 77-73; 103-92.
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