MANILA, Philippines – Import Tyler Wilkerson fired 35 points and June Mar Fajardo backed him up with 20, and the San Miguel Beermen cruised past the Blackwater Elite, 108-96, in the 2016 PBA Commissioner's Cup on Wednesday, March 2 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Wilkerson went 4-of-9 from downtown and also had 17 rebounds and 4 blocks as the Beermen won two games in a row after a conference-opening loss to Mahindra.
"(We can use this as) motivation for our next game against Meralco, whom we know is 5-0," said head coach Leo Austria in Filipino at post-game, now looking ahead to facing the Meralco Bolts on Saturday, March 5 in Legazpi City. "I hope we could improve our game because Meralco is really playing well."
Fajardo netted 7 of his 14 shot attempts to go with 7 rebounds in just over 30 minutes.
"Kailangan magtrabaho e (I have to work)," Fajardo said when asked during the broadcast how he's juggling San Miguel and Gilas Pilipinas practices. "Mas gugustuhin ko magtrabaho kasi sayang yung i-improve ko (I'd rather work because I don't want to miss out on improving).
Alex Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter chipped in 13 and 11 points, respectively, for San Miguel while Arwind Santos had 9 points and 10 rebounds.
Carlo Lastimosa topscored for the now 2-3 Elite with 16 points to go with 6 rebounds. JP Erram likewise had 16 markers with 9 boards and two blocks.
Reil Cervantes had 10 points while import MJ Rhett settled for just 12 markers on 4-of-12 field goals along with 14 rebounds, 3 assists and a block.
Raphy Reyes and Art Dela Cruz had 11 and 10 points, respectively, for Blackwater, which managed to keep it close in the first half before San Miguel pulled away with a 24-18 third quarter.
Scores:
San Miguel (108): Wilkerson 35, Fajardo 20, Cabagnot 13, Lassiter 11, Santos 9, Espinas 6, Lutz 4, Arana 2, Heruela 2, Mabulac 2, Reyes 2, Ross 2, De Ocampo 0, Semerad 0.
Blackwater (96): Erram 16, Lastimosa 16, Cervantes 12, Rhett 12, Reyes 11, Dela Cruz 10, Gamalinda 9, Tiongson 6, Sena 2, Vosotros 2, Golla 0.
Quarter scores: 18-17, 46-39, 80-57, 108-96.
– Rappler.com