MANILA – San Miguel Beermen pushed Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings closer to dethronement with a 106-96 Game 2 win in the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals last night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Holding to a slim 87-86 lead midway throught the fourth quarter, the Beermen leaned on conversions by Bennie Boatwright Jr., Jaymar Perez and Marcio Lassiter to build a 96-91 lead.
The Gin Kings cut the deficit to 93-96 on a basket by Christian Standhardinger, but a three-pointer by Boatwright followed by free throw connections by Lassiter, June Mar Fajardo and Boatwright sealed the win for the Beermen.
Boatwright led the way with 38 points, including six three-point conversions, to go with nine rebounds and two assists as the Beermen took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five semifinals series.
Fajardo added a double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds, Perez also ended up with 17 markers, while Lassiter chipped in 14 markers, including four three-point baskets for the Beermen.
The Beermen can secure a seat to the best-of-seven championship series with a win over the defending champions Gin Kings in Game 3 on Sunday night.
The Beermen surged to a 10-0 start before the Gin Kings slowly clawed their way back to cut the deficit to 21-23 before taking a slim 46-43 lead at the half.
Both teams traded leads in the third period before the Gin Kings surged to a 65-60 lead, but the Beermen had a quick response behind Jeron Teng and Boatwright for a slim 76-74 advantage.
The Beermen maintained an 83-79 lead early in the final quarter on connections by Teng and Celedonio Trollano, but the Gin Kings kept the match close at 86-87 via a basket by Tony Bishop Jr.
Jamie Malonzo top-scored for the Gin Kings with 27 points, including six three-point conversions, Bishop added 25 markers, while Maverick Ahanmisi ended with 13 markers in the loss./PN
BOX SCORE:
SAN MIGUEL 106 – Boatwright 38, Perez 17, Fajardo 17, Lassiter 16, Teng 7, Trollano 5, Cruz 4, Tautuaa 2, Brondial 0, Ross 0, Enciso 0.
GINEBRA 96– Malonzo 27, Bishop 25, Ahanmisi 13, Thompson 9, Standhardinger 9, Pringle 6, Pinto 5, J. Aguilar 2, Tenorio 0.
QUARTERS: 23-21, 43-46, 76-74, 106-96.
