QUEZON CITY—Meralco's Game 1 win on Saturday served as a wake-up call for San Miguel.
On Monday night, the team responded with a bang.
The Beermen occupied the last ride to the PBA Governors' Cup semifinals with a 102-86 rout of the Bolts at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Two nights after seeing its twice-to-beat advantage cancelled out by the seventh-seeded Meralco, the second-seeded SMB made good use of their extra life by immediately racing to a 14-point cushion, 30-16, late in the first quarter.
Meralco, however, uncorked an 18-6 rally in the second period to cut the lead to two, 36-34.
The Beermen once again threatened to pull away after mounting a 62-50 lead in the third frame, but the Bolts came to within one, 63-64, later in the period.
San Miguel broke away for good in the final quarter after a flurry of triples pushed the lead to double digits.
AZ Reid led all scorers with 29 points, while Junemar Fajardo added 22 for the Beermen, who will next face the Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters in the semifinals beginning on Thursday.
Andre Emmett tallied 28 markers for the Bolts.
Box Scores:
San Miguel 102-Reid 29, Fajardo 22, Lassiter 17, Santos 15,Tubid 8, Espinas 5, Lutz 2, Cabagnot 2, Ross 2
Meralco 86-Emmett 28, Hugnatan 17, David 16, Cortez 7, Dillinger 5, Nabong 5, Hodge 5, Anthony 3, Ando 0, Atkins 0, Guevarra 0
Quarterscores: 30-18, 49-42, 67-65, 102-86
San Miguel broke away for good in the final quarter after a flurry of triples pushed the lead to double digits.
AZ Reid led all scorers with 29 points, while Junemar Fajardo added 22 for the Beermen, who will next face the Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters in the semifinals beginning on Thursday.
Andre Emmett tallied 28 markers for the Bolts.
Box Scores:
San Miguel 102-Reid 29, Fajardo 22, Lassiter 17, Santos 15,Tubid 8, Espinas 5, Lutz 2, Cabagnot 2, Ross 2
Meralco 86-Emmett 28, Hugnatan 17, David 16, Cortez 7, Dillinger 5, Nabong 5, Hodge 5, Anthony 3, Ando 0, Atkins 0, Guevarra 0
Quarterscores: 30-18, 49-42, 67-65, 102-86
.jpg)
