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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
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04
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26
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2024
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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
04
26
2024
THERE is little denying that San Miguel Beer’s momentum going to the playoffs is in full throttle.
With Arizona Reid recording his first-ever triple double, the Beermen had little trouble disposing off Blackwater, 115-83, Tuesday to cement their hold on a coveted playoff spot in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The two-time Best Import awardee notched 39 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in leading SMB to the wire-to-wire victory, stretching its streak to eight and giving it a league-best 8-2 win-loss overall.
Not only did the Beermen broke out of a leadership tie with idle Alaska, but they also secured a top four slot that carries with it a win-once advantage in the eight-team quarterfinals, a hold they could further firm up should they wind up the eliminations with a win against Alaska on Saturday.
“Maraming nagsasabi we don’t need this wi but I cannot stop the plyers,” said SMB head coach Leo Austria. “They want to play, they want to be in a good momentum.”
The man who steered the Beermen to the Philippine Cup title also reiterated his contention that their ultimate goal is to keep on improving and carry over that winning attitude in the playoffs.
“We’re not after sa streak. Basta every game is very important for us. We want to develop that kind of habit. Kaya I address them na every day we should keep learning, we should keep improving, na dapat ascending ang flight namin.
“I hope ‘yung gutom ng mga players still remain in them. I tell them we’re here to compete, we’re here to win.”
None showed that hunger more than Reid, who laced his performance with 10 of his points during a decisive 20-4 charge that staked SMB to an unassailable 109-80 spread, only 2:21 to go.
The loss was cellar-dwelling Blackwater’s fifth straight and eighth in nine games, formally shutting the door on the expansion team’s hopes of getting past the eliminations for the first time in its maiden stint.
In only his second game since coming in as replacement for Marcus Douthit, Marcus Cousin wound up with 25 points and 16 rebounds to pace Blackwater while rookie Brian Heruela finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Reil Cervantes, Raphy Reyes and the rest of the Elite tried to do their part but there was simply too much Reid and SMB to handle.
June Mar Fajardo scored 20 points, Marcio Lassiter 17, anchored on 5-for-7 three-point shooting, and Ronald Tubid 13 off three treys, none bigger than the one he buried to ensure SMB goes into the fourth canto with an 80-67 lead.
After falling behind by counts of 8-28 and 29-57 early, Blackwater put up its most gallant stand during the third quarter, when it trimmed the deficit to 10 points thrice, the last at 67-77.
The basket that could have gotten the Elite over the hump just won’t come, however.
Reid already had 20 points and six assists in the first half, although he had to sit it out starting in the last 1:22 of the second quarter after being assessed an F1 for hitting Gilbert Bulawan on the back of the head with a forearm.
The opportunity was pounced on by Blackwater, which strung up six more points for an 11-0 run and whittle what was a 31-59 deficit to just 42-59 at the turn.
Cosuin already had 12 points at the half, but it was Cervantes who fueled the surge with all seven of his first half points.
It was not just Reid doing the damage for SMB as Fajardo added 11, Lassiter nine on three triples and Tubid coming off the bench for eight points, all helping the Beermen’s surge to their first 28-point bubble at 57-29.
The scores:
SAN MIGUEL BEER 115 – Reid 39, Fajardo 20, Lassiter 17, Tubid 13, Santos 9, Lutz 6, Reyes 5, Ross 2, Fortuna 2, Omolon 2, Cabagnot 0, Espinas 0, Semerad 0.
BLACKWATER 83 – Cousin 25, Heruela 15, Cervantes 11, Reyes 7, Faundo 6, Erram 6, Gamalinda 4, Bulawan 3, Celiz 2, Ballesteros 2, Laure 2, Timberlake 0, Golla 0, Acuna 0, Salvacion 0.
Quarterscores: 32-14, 59-42, 80-67, 115-83
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