Import-less SMB beats ROS to stay alive

Jay R. Gotera MANILA — Playing without an import and with their backs against the wall, the San Miguel Beermen finally found the fire missing in their last two games to scorch the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 104-98, in Game 3 of their best-of-5 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals series Thursday night. The Beermen thus stayed alive as they trimmed the Painters’ series lead to 2-1. Game 4 is set for Sunday with SMB hoping to tie the series and extend it to a do-or-die Game 5 Tuesday. The Beermen dumped import Tyler Wilkerson following the latter’s uncalled for post-game outburst Tuesday night blaming his teammates and coaching staff for their Game 2 defeat. But instead of losing heart at the loss of their import, the Beermen used the incident to galvanize themselves into the explosive team that won the Philippine Cup at the start of the season. Showing great chemistry, the Beermen shot 40-percent from three-point range. Marcio Lassiter regained his shooting touch to bang in a team-high 30 points, including 5-for-8 (62-percent) from the beyond the arc. Alex Cabagnot played a superb all-around game, finishing with 28 points, five rebounds and six assists for SMB. Arwind Santos was also on fire, posting 18 points, including four triples. Reigning back-to-back MVP June Mar Fajardo added 13 points and team-highs of nine rebounds and four blocks. Chris Ross also sparkled, dishing out a team-high 12 assists plus five steals although finishing with only two points. Jericho Cruz led Rain or Shine with 25 points. The Painters failed to take advantage of Wilkerson’s absence in the paint as their own import, Pierre Henderson-Niles, only managed to produce seven points and 11 rebounds. For a while the Painters appeared headed to victory as they opened the third quarter with a 7-0 run to erect a 60-51 lead. But the proud Beermen finally found their range from the outside. Three-pointers from Santos, Lassiter and Cabagnot tied the score at 62-all. There was no stopping the Beermen’s long-range bombs from then on as they erected a 13-point lead, 80-67. The Painters rallied furiously in the fourth quarter, cutting SMB’s lead to one, 97-96. But once again, Lassiter played the firemen’s role, dousing ROS’ comeback with a jumper and two free throws to extend SMB’s lead back to five, 101-96, a lead the Beermen protected until the final buzzer sounded. Game Friday: Meralco Bolts vs. Alaska Aces (Game 3, best-of-5 semifinals; Series tied 1-1).