MANILA – San Miguel Beermen survived a bench-triggered endgame run by Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots for a 103-95 win in Game 1 of the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals last night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Leading by as much as 20 points at 94-74 with six minutes left, the Beermen were stunned by a furious fourth quarter run by the Hotshots behind reserves Joseph Eriobu, Russell Escoto, and Aris Dionisio to cut the lead to 100-95.
The Hotshots even had a chance to pull even closer, but Jiovani Jalalon misfired his attempts against a much-taller Beermen defender Bennie Boatwright Jr. before he turned the ball over in the next play.
Split free throws by Jaymar Perez, June Mar Fajardo, and Jeron Teng in the succeeding plays allowed the Beermen to increase the lead to eight points and escaped with the Game 1 win.
Boatwright finished the game with a double-double of 28 points and 16 rebounds, while Perez added 19 markers, mostly in the first half, as the Beermen took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven championship series.
Marcio Lassiter caught fire from the outside in the second quarter to end up with 16 points, Fajardo established a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Celedonio Trollano chipped in 10 markers.
Down by as much as seven points in the first quarter, the Beermen turned things around in the second quarter behind the outside shooting of Boatwright and Lassiter to increase the lead to 61-44 at the half.
The Beermen maintained the 18-point edge in the third quarter with connections from Perez and Boatwright, but the Hotshots leaned on attacks by Calvin Abueva to cut the deficit to 72-85.
San Miguel Beer opened the fourth quarter with consecutive inside conversions from Boatwright, Perez, and Teng as the lead reached its biggest at 94-74 with 6:35 left in the contest.
Tyler Bey finished with a double-double of 26 points and 15 rebounds, Andy Mark Barroca added 16 markers, while Jalalon contributed 12 assists, 11 rebounds, eight points, and six steals for the Hotshots./PN
BOX SCORE:
SAN MIGUEL 103 – Boatwright 28, Perez 19, Lassiter 16, Fajardo 11, Trollano 10, Cruz 8, Romeo 5, Teng 4, Ross 2, Enciso 0, Tautuaa 0, Brondial 0.
MAGNOLIA 95 – Bey 26, Barroca 16, Jalalon 8, Sangalang 8, Dionisio 8, Eriobu 7, Abueva 6, Lee 6, Tratter 5, Escoto 3, Laput 2, Mendoza 0, Dela Rosa 0, Reavis 0.
Quarterscores: 20-24, 61-44, 85-72, 103-95.
