MANILA – San Miguel Beermen showed no mercy for sister team Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, handing them a humiliating 131-82 beating in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup on Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Marcio Lassiter tallied 18 points, including six three-pointers that put him on top of the PBA’s all-time three-point list, as the Beermen took the solo first place in Group B standings with 6-2 win-loss slate.
“I just want to thank God for the glory, I cannot do this without Him. Most importantly, coach Jorge (Gallent) is an awesome coach, he gives me confidence every night to showcase my talents, and to my teammates now and from the past,” Lassiter said.
“I am just truly honored and blessed to be in this position and words cannot describe how I am feeling I just overwhelmed with a lot of emotions,” added the former Gilas Pilipinas mainstay.
June Mar Fajardo top-scored for the Beermen with 24 points, Jaymar Perez added 22 markers, while Terrence Romeo, Jordan Adams, and Celedonio Trollano added 14, 12, and 11 markers, respectively.
The Beermen set the tone with three early three-pointers from Lassiter to establish a 23-7 lead before widening it to 66-31 at the half following three-pointers from Fajardo and Jericho Cruz.
San Miguel Beer continued their onslaught in the second half as the lead reached its largest at 49 points at 131-82 on a four-point conversion by Kyt Jimenez with 36 seconds left.
“In the start, it was all energy and the players said that they wanted to help Marcio get this (three-point feat) off his back, I am happy for him, and I am blessed to be his coach,” said Gallent.
Rhon Jhay Abarrientos led the way for the Gin Kings with 19 points, Justin Brownlee chipped in 16 markers, while Japeth Aguilar and Earl Scottie Thompson ended with 15 and 13, respectively. They dropped to 5-3 in the standings.
Meanwhile, Meralco Bolts (6-2) pounced on the early exit of NorthPort Batang Pier reinforcement Venky Jois to score a 114-104 victory. Chris Banchero emerged as Player of the Game after finishing with 19 points./PN
BOX SCORE:
SAN MIGUEL 131 – Fajardo 24, Perez 22, Lassiter 18, Romeo 14, Adams 12, Trollano 11, Cruz 6, Manuel 6, Jimenez 6, Brondial 4, Ross 3, Rosales 3, Nava 2.
GINEBRA 82 – Abarrientos 19, Brownlee 16, J. Aguilar 15, Thompson 13, Garcia 5, Pessumal 4, Mariano 4, Holt 3, R. Aguilar 2, Ahanmisi 1, Pinto 0, Adamos 0, Tenorio 0, Cu 0.
Quarterscores: 37-13, 66-31, 98-58, 131-82.
