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| James Yap lit it up anew for ROS. PBA Media Group |
By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA—The Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters spoiled Terrence Romeo’s debut with San Miguel Beer and hacked out a 108-98 win in the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Friday night.
The Beermen actually started the game pretty well, going on an 8-0 run before opening a 25-13 lead in the first quarter behind the hot hands of Marcio Lassiter and Kelly Nabong.
But ROS responded with a 31-15 second quarter to take a 54-42 halftime lead.
The team even threatened to pull away early in the third quarter, extending its lead to 18 points, 66-48.
However, Lassiter came alive again later in the third and helped SMB cut the lead to four, 81-77, with 1:02 to go in the said period.
The defending champion even inched closer early in the fourth period, drawing to within three, 86-89, after triples from Romeo and Von Pessumal.
However, a booming triple from rookie Javee Mocon sparked a brief yet pivotal 5-0 E-Painters run that helped them hold off the Beermen in the end.
James Yap continued his resurgence with a 21-point performance for ROS alongside four rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
Mocon added 18 points, 17 rebounds, four assists, and one steal as the Welcoat franchise bounced back from a stinging defeat to Blackwater, which lost to Phoenix in the first game, that snapped its unbeaten run and moved up to 3-1.
Norbert Torres put up a perfect game, making all his five field goal attempts including all his three tries from three-point range and both his free throws to finish with 15 markers along with two rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal.
Lassiter finished with 27 points, burying seven triples, five rebounds, three assists, and one block for SMB, which fell to 2-3.
Fajardo added 24 markers, 14 caroms, four dimes, and four blocks.
In his first game as a Beerman, Romeo put up 11 points, five rebounds, four dimes, and one steal off the bench, although he only made four shots out of 12 tries.
The scores:
Rain Or Shine 108 - Yap 21, Mocon 18, Ahanmisi 17, Torres 15, Ponferada 12, Belga 8, Norwood 6, Rosales 6, Almazan 5, Daquioag 0, Nambatac 0.
San Miguel 98 - Lassiter 27, Fajardo 24, Pessumal 12, Romeo 11, Nabong 10, Tubid 2, Ross 0, Zamar 0, Mamaril 0.
Quarters: 23-27, 54-42, 86-80, 108-98.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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