MANILA – San Miguel Beermen came up with huge plays down the stretch to score 106-94 over Phoenix Fuel Masters in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Scores were tied 88-all when Beermen came up with 8 straight points – a triple from Arwind Santos, a three-point play from June Mar Fajardo and a dunk by Renaldo Balkman – for a 96-88 lead.
After a split free throw from Fuel Masters’ import Eugene Phelps, Beermen pulled away for good with baskets from Alex Cabagnot, Fajardo and Santos for its largest lead at 103-89.
A game prior, NLEX Road Warriors banked on its reserve guards Juan Miguel Tiongson and Alex Mallari in lieu of suspended Kiefer Ravena as it cruised to a 93-89 victory over Blackwater Elite.
Tiongson finished with double-double 10 points and 10 assists to go along with five rebounds, while Mallari had 10 points, five boards and five assists. Ilonggo Emman Monfort also had a solid game of 5 points, seven rebounds and three steals.
Balkman led Beermen – the defending champion – with double-double 35 points and 17 rebounds. Rookie Christian Standhardinger added 18 while Santos and Cabagnot had 13 points each.
“We really need this victory badly. We’re trying our best na makuha namin iyong chemistry namin,” said Beermen head coach Leo Austria. “We’re in a situation na ’di kami kailangan magkamali.”
Phelps finished with near triple-double (33 points, 17 rebounds and eight assists) while Matthew Wright chipped in 17 markers for Fuel Masters (3-3).
It was import Arnett Moultrie who played a key role for Road Warriors down the stretch as he anchored the team’s 13-0 run to turn the 77-86 deficit to a 90-86 advantage.
Moultrie finished the match with double-double 26 points and 16 rebounds for Road Warriors (2-4). Elite remained winless in six games./PN
