SAN Miguel sealed its entry in the quarterfinals while staying unbeaten, routing NorthPort, 120-100, on Sunday in the PBA 48th Season Philippine Cup at the Philsports Arena.
The Beermen led by as many 39 points in the contest to keep their undefeated run to 7-0 to clinch a berth in the next round with still four games to play.
So dominant was San Miguel that it hit the century mark in the third quarter, and only trailed in the game for 19 seconds when NorthPort was up, 15-14.
The struggles continue for the Batang Pier, who lost for the fourth straight time to fall to 4-5.
San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent said there is still work to be done for the Beermen even after clinching a quarterfinal berth.
Gallent noted how the Beermen led, 114-75, early in the fourth only to score just six afterwards.
“We tend to relax with a big lead. We just have to keep that energy there until 48 minutes. We were up by 39, and then in the last five, six minutes, it just went down to 20 because the energy level went down,” said Austria.
CJ Perez poured 29 points including 10 in the first quarter that ended with San Miguel on top, 36-27.
Mo Tautuaa had 15 points, while Marcio Lassiter added 14 points including 4-of-5 from threes. Lassiter also moved to fourth place in the all-time three-points made list and now has 1,197, now three ahead of Blackwater’s James Yap.
San Miguel now takes on Magnolia in a rematch of the Commissioner’s Cup finals on Friday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Arvin Tolentino had 26 points and nine rebounds for NorthPort, which will next face Terrafirma on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The scores:
San Miguel 120 – Perez 29, Tautuaa 15, Lassiter 14, Trollano 13, Fajardo 12, Teng 10, Enciso 9, Brondial 8, Ross 6, Romeo 4, Mallillin 0.
NorthPort 100 – Tolentino 26, Lucero 10, Bulanadi 10, Munzon 10, Cuntapay 9, Zamar 8, Amores 4, Flores 4, Adamos 4, Taha 3, Rosales 3, Paraiso 3, Yu 2, Chan 2, Navarro 2.
