Jay R. Gotera
MANILA — The Blackwater Elite kept its poise in the endgame to squeeze out a 100-98 win over the hard-luck Star Hotshots in the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup Friday night.
Import Eric Dawson scored a key basket with nine seconds remaining while JP Erram got a huge block to preserve the win, Blackwater’s first after opening the conference with a loss.
Erram was a revelation for Blackwater, top-scoring for his team with 16 points and six rebounds. Dawson added 14 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three blocks.
Jerick Canada also shone bright for the Elite, converting all his shots including 4-for-4 from beyond the three-point arc for a total of 14 points.
Three other players – Carlo Lastimosa, Bam Gamalinda and Kyle Pascual – also finished in double figures for the Elite.
San Miguel Beer 94, NLEX 93
Marcio Lassiter knocked down a clutch three-pointer with five-tenths of a second left to lift San Miguel Beer to a 94-93 victory over NLEX, its second straight win in the in the season-ending conference.
The Beermen thus joined idle Meralco Bolts and Mahindra Enforcers at the top of the standings.
Lassiter’s game-winner capped a 6-0 SMB blast in the last 27 seconds of the game. Seconds earlier, Alex Cabagnot also drained a three-pointer to slash NLEX’s five-point lead to two points, 93-91.
Lassiter finished with just eight points after missing his first six three-point attempts. He made up for his poor shooting by grabbing nine rebounds.
Arizona Reid paced SMB with 23 points and 11 rebounds while Cabagnot added 19 markers, four boards, and three assists.
June Mar Fajardo added 16 points on 8-for-9 shooting from the field while Lassiter finished with eight points and nine rebounds.
The Road Warriors suffered their first lost after opening the conference with a win.
Import Henry Walker led NLEX with 33 points.
Games Saturday:: Meralco Bolts (2-0) vs. Tropang TNT (1-0) and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (0-1) vs. Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters (0-2).
