San Miguel rolls past Phoenix to book semis ticket

June 6, 2017 - 6:34 PM
4059
PBA Media Bureau

Enjoying a twice-to-beat advantage, the San Miguel Beermen didn’t take any chances, steamrolling the Phoenix Fuel Masters, 115-96, to clinch the first semifinal ticket in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Tuesday at SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Marcio Lassiter sizzled for 26 points, 11 of which came in the first quarter, and buried five out of 10 triples to go along with four rebounds and three assists to lead the Beermen who await the winner of the Star-Rain or Shine quarterfinal series.

Best Player of the Conference frontrunner Alex Cabagnot finished with 20 points, eight rebounds and six dimes while burying six out of 12 three-pointers. June Mar Fajardo added 15 points and eight rebounds.

Two San Miguel players posted double-doubles: Charles Rhodes had 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Chris Ross scored 11 points and 10 assists.

Even Ronald Tubid contributed 14 points off the bench for the Beermen who took the fight out of Phoenix in the first half.

Behind Lassiter’s sizzling shooting in the first quarter, San Miguel overcame Phoenix’s tough fight in the first quarter to grab a 28-21 lead.

The Beermen then flexed their muscles and unleashed their juggernaut offense in the second quarter, launching a blistering 23-2 run that handed them a commanding 51-23 lead which was too much for Phoenix.

Jameel McKay scored 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead Phoenix but he got little help from the team’s top gunner Matthew Wright who was limited to nine points.