SMB drowns Rain or Shine to end winless start

Sports

CEBUANO big man June Mar Fajardo struggled but Marcio Lassiter and CJ Perez were there to save the day as the San Miguel Beermen dominated the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 111-93, in the 50th PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday night, Oct. 19, at the Ynares Center in Montalban.

The victory ended the Beermen’s uncharacteristic winless start, finally breaking into the win column after opening their campaign with back-to-back losses against lowly teams NLEX and Phoenix.

Lassiter and Perez teamed up in the much-needed win, stepping up big-time when Fajardo took long to get into a good rhythm.

Perez fired a game-high 23 points while Lassiter scattered 18 markers, all coming in the payoff period where the Beermen completely shut the door on the Elasto Painters.

Lassiter came into the match averaging just 8.5 points. His solid outing came after he took a hit to the nose that needed him to return to the dugout in the second quarter before returning to the floor and giving the Beermen a huge lift.

Fajardo, on the other hand, managed just three points in the first three quarters buit got going in the final frame where he unloaded 14 of his 17 points, allowing the Beermen to lead by as many as 25 points.

Fajardo also collected 14 rebounds.

The loss denied the Elasto Painters a second straight victory as they fell after pulling off a thrilling 96-95 win over the Meralco Bolts last week.

Adrian Nocum topped Rain or Shine with 17 points while Jhonard Clarito and Gian Mamuyac pitched in 16 each. The defeat spoiled Stanley Pringle’s first game in a Rain or Shine uniform. He finished with 11 points.

THE SCORES:

SAN MIGUEL (111)- Perez 23, Lassiter 18, Fajardo 17, Tiongson 11, Trollano 8, Calma 8, Tautuaa 6, Brondial 6, Cruz 5, Rosales 3, Miller 2, Teng 2, Mantua 2, Ross 0.

RAIN OR SHINE (93)- Nocum 17, Clarito 16, Mamuyac 16, Pringle 11, Tiongson 9, Caracut 6, Datu 6, Norwood 4, Asistio 4, Porter 2, Santillan 2, Belga 0.QUARTERSCIRES: 22-19; 46-34;74-65; 111-93.(CCM)