MANILA – San Miguel Beermen scored back-to-back wins in the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup via a wire-to-wire 104-86 win over NorthPort Batang Pier last night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Devon Scott flirted with triple-double with 25 points, 16 rebounds and six assists, while Jaymar Perez added 16 markers as the Beermen moved up to 3-3 in the standings.
Ilonggo Jericho Cruz and Simon Enciso added 14 markers apiece, while Robbie Herndon had 11 points.
The Beermen won despite being shorthanded with the absence of June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross, and Terrence Romeo. They were blazing to start the game on inside conversions by Moala Tautuaa and Scott for a 26-16 lead. It grew further to 47-32 at the half with shots from Herndon and Cruz.
San Miguel Beer continued its onslaught in the second half behind conversions by Perez and Enciso as the lead reached its largest at 25 points in the fourth quarter.
Prince Ibeh had double-double 16 points and 16 rebounds, William Navarro made his PBA debut with 14 markers, while Robert Bolick Jr. struggled with 10 points as the Batang Pier dropped to 3-4.
In the first game, Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters (4-3) leaned on clutch hits by Encho Serrano to pull off a 92-83 escape over Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (3-4) for their fourth straight win.
After seeing their once 18-point lead trimmed to 78-83 but a furious fourth quarter run by the Painters, Serrano drilled a corner triple to surge the Fuel Masters ahead, 86-78, with over a minute left.
Rain or Shine pulled even closer at 83-86 after a three-pointer by Gian Mamuyac but Serrano responded with a tough layup and two free throws to widen Phoenix’s lead to 90-83.
Serrano finished with season-high 18 points, reinforcement Kaleb Wesson had double-double 21 points and 17 rebounds while RJ Jazul contributed 11 markers for the Fuel Masters./PN
