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SMB mauls Blackwater to clinch PBA PH Cup semis spot

Marcio Lassiter was on fire for the Beermen. Dennis Acosta
By Ivan Saldajeno

QUEZON CITY--Once upon a time, Blackwater was in the thick of things in the race for a once-to-win advantage in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals.

However, the team suffered a heartbreaking loss to San Miguel, which sparked the team's sudden slip to the eighth seed--and to the wrong side of the quarterfinal bonus.

On Wednesday night, the Bossing's supposedly impressive run at this conference ended at the hands of the same team that dragged them back into reality.

The Beermen once again proved to be thorns for the Bossing, this time mauling them, 123-93, in their quarterfinal game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The outcome was already decided in the first quarter, where SMB raced to a 32-13 lead over Blackwater.

While the Bossing got their offense going in the next quarters, the Beermen's steadiness was just too much.

Marcio Lassiter and CJ Perez each scored 18 points for SMB, which joined TNT as the first two teams into the semifinals.

June Mar Fajardo, the current frontrunner in the Best Player of the Conference race, added 11 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and two steals.

Ato Ular put up 15 markers, 11 boards, one block, and one steal for Blackwater, which finished the conference on a six-game losing streak after a 5-1 start.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno

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