MANILA – San Miguel Beermen put an end to Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters’ winning streak with a 117-96 beating in the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Christmas Day at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Bennie Boatwright Jr. made his Beermen debut with a double-double of 26 points and 16 rebounds, while Terrence Romeo caught fire in the fourth quarter to end up with 22 markers.
Jaymar Perez tallied 20 points, nine rebounds, six assists and five steals, while Ilonggo Jericho Cruz and Celedonio Trollano ended with 15 and 12, respectively, as the Beermen secured its third consecutive win to improve to 6-3.
Down by as much as nine points in the first half, the Beermen slowly clawed its way back to cut the deficit to 79-80 before surging ahead at 87-80 behind the 8-0 fourth quarter start courtesy of Romeo, Cruz, and Moala Tautuaa.
The Fuel Masters still tried to keep the match close at 90-96 after a three-point play by Johnathan Williams, but the Beermen got conversions from Romeo, Cruz, and Mario Lassiter to increase the lead to 117-93.
Williams had a double-double of 37 points and 16 rebounds, RJ Jazul chipped in 14 markers, while Sean Manganti and Javee Mocon had 11 and 10, respectively, as the Fuel Masters saw its six-game winning streak snapped to drop to 7-2.
Over the weekend, Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots (9-1) secured a twice-to-beat incentive heading into the quarterfinals following an 88-80 beating of Converge FiberXers (1-8).
Tyler Bey came through with a double-double of 27 points and 13 rebounds, while Jiovani Jalalon had his own double-double with 16 markers and 10 boards plus five assists to lead the Hotshots.
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (4-5), meanwhile, rolled to its fourth consecutive victory as it took down the slumping Terrafirma Dyip (2-7) to keep their quarterfinals hopes afloat.
Beau Belga spearheaded the offense for the Painters with 18 points, Jhonard Clarito, Leonard Santillan and import Demetrius Treadwell added 16 markers apiece, while Andrei Caracut and Keith Datu contributed 13 and 12, respectively.
BOX SCORE:
SAN MIGUEL 117 – Boatwright 26, Romeo 22, Perez 20, Cruz 15, Trollano 12, Brondial 8, Lassiter 6, Tautuaa 4, Ross 2, Mallilin 2.
PHOENIX 96 – Williams 37, Jazul 14, Manganti 11, Mocon 10, Tio 6, Rivero 5, Alejandro 4, Garcia 4, Muyang 3, Tuffin 2, Verano 0, Camacho 0, Lalata 0, Daves 0, Rangel 0.
Quarterscores: 30-34, 54-58, 79-80, 117-96.
