Jay R. Gotera
Saudi Gazette
MANILA – Import Tyler Wilkerson exploded for 52 points while Marcio Lassiter sizzled for 28 markers, including eight three-pointers, as the duo powered the San Miguel Beermen to a 120-109 victory over the GlobalPort Batang Pier in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Friday night.
SMB, this season’s Philippine Cup champion, nailed its first win in the conference after opening with a loss against Mahindra last Feb. 20.
June Mar Fajardo added 15 points while Alex Cabagnot chipped in 12 for SMB.
Import Calvin Warner posted 27 points and 17 boards in a losing effort for GlobalPort which suffered its first loss after back-to-back wins against Barangay Ginebra and TNT.
Terrence Romeo added 22 points while his backcourt partner Stanley Pringle chipped in 19. Jay Washington contributed 13 markers.
Mahindra 106, NLEX 99
The Mahindra Enforcers unleashed a scorching 15-4 run in the endgame to zip past the NLEX Road Warriors, 106-99, to post their second straight win and third overall in four outings.
Thus, the Mahindra Enforcers, who used to be the league’s doormat, now find themselves at solo second place in the standings, just behind the pace-setting Meralco Bolts (4-0), another unlikely team making a huge splash in the current conference.
Import Augustus Gilchrist led Mahindra with 30 points and 10 rebounds. Five other Enforcers scored in twin digits. KG Canaleta pumped in 21 points, including three three-pointers, plus seven rebounds.
Chito Jaime posted a double-double of 15 points and 11 boards. Mike Digregorio added 13 markers while Aldrech Ramos had a double-double 12 points and 10 boards.
La Revilla chipped in 10 markers and six assists. The wily pint-sized Mahindra point guard scored four of his points in the end game, including a floater with 42.3 ticks left that gave the Enforcers a 100-93 lead.
NBA veteran Al Thornton was the stop scorer for NLEX with 29 points and nine boards. Sean Anthony added 18 markers and nine boards.
With 5 minutes left in the game and NLEX up, 90-87, Mahindra dropped a 15-4 bomb to take a 102-94 lead with 30 seconds left, virtually clinching the win.
Import Al Thornton led the Road Warriors with 29 points but this was not enough to stop NLEX from absorbing its second loss in four outings.
Sean Anthony had 18 points and nine boards while Jonas Villanueva added 15 markers. Asi Taulava had 10 points and 12 boards in a losing effort for NLEX.
Games Saturday: Phoenix Fuel Masters (1-1) vs. Tropang TNT (1-3) and Alaska Aces (1-1) vs. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (1-2).
