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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Saturday, March 10, 2018
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MANILA – San Miguel Beermen relied on its hot three-point shooting to stave off Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, 102-90, in Game 1 of the 2017-2018 PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinals last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Arwind Santos led the way with 23 points, including five three-point conversions.
Von Pessumal added 18 markers while Marcio Lassiter contributed 17 points.
The three-time defending All-Filipino Conference champions were on point with their outside shooting on a 16-of-34 shooting cliff compared to the Kings’ 5-of-19.
Both teams were exchanging leads early in the opening quarter before the Beermen started to pull away on triples by Lassiter, Santos and Alex Cabagnot to build a 26-20 advantage.
The Kings were able to come close at 26-31 early in the second period but the Beermen turned to its outside shooting again courtesy of Pessumal and Lassiter for a 50-41 halftime lead.
The Beermen started strong in the third quarter on inside hits by June Mar Fajardo and outside conversions from Lassiter and Cabagnot as it built its largest lead at 78-60 on a fastbreak by Santos.
The Kings made its last run in the fourth quarter to come to as close as 82-94 but the Beermen was quick to end on that run with back-to-back triples from Cabagnot and Pessumal to make it an 18 point advantage anew.
Japeth Aguilar, Earl Scottie Thompson and Solomon Mercado each finished with 17 points, while Aljon Mariano chipped in 12 markers for the Kings.
The Kings continued to miss the services of injured big men Gregory Slaughter and Arthur Dela Cruz./PN
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