San Miguel keeps Star at bay for 3-0 slate

MANILA, Philippines – The San Miguel Beermen came out firing from tip-off and they kept the Star Hotshots in check for the most part in a 103-97 win on Sunday, April 16 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Beermen improved to a 3-0 record in the 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup after holding off one final Hotshots push in the final minute.

Import Charles Rhodes battled foul trouble, collecting his fourth late in the first half, but still wound up with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Rhodes, who poured all his pent-up energy in a thunderous two-handed dunk in the third quarter, shot 78% from the field or 11-of-14.

More importantly, he outlasted his counterpart as Hotshots reinforcement Tony Mitchell left the game with still 2:49 remaining when he fouled out. Mitchell wrapped up his night with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks.

San Miguel blew an early double-digit advantage as Star found itself cold from the outside. Even as PJ Simon finally punctured the net with a 3-pointer in the third that could have been spark the Hotshots needed, the Beermen countered with Rhodes’ back-to-back two-pointer and vicious throwdown plus an Arwind Santos fastbreak layup to regain control.

The Beermen tapered off somewhat late in the game as the Hotshots inched to within 4, 99-05, after a cool Paul Lee triple with a minute left. But Chris Ross, who finished with 19 points, delivered the dagger with a layup inside the final 30 seconds following a rushed missed trey from Lee on the other end.

Marcio Lassiter added 16 points while Arwind Santos contributed 13 markers and 6 boards off the bench.

June Mar Fajardo registered 10 points and 11 rebounds in over 42 minutes.

Ian Sangalang had 18 points and 6 rebounds for the now 4-2 Star, while Lee and Allein Maliksi chipped in 16 and 11 markers, respectively.

Mark Barroca collected 10 points and tracked down 7 rebounds as the Hotshots lost back-to-back games coming off a “Manila Clasico” defeat against rival Barangay Ginebra before the Holy Week break.

Meanwhile, Star lost forward Aldrech Ramos in the first quarter when he was rushed to the hospital for a suspected nasal fracture.

Scores:

San Miguel (103): Rhodes 29, Ross 19, Lassiter 16, Santos 13, Fajardo 10, Heruela 8, Cabagnot 6, Espinas 2, Semerad 0, De Ocampo 0.

Star (97): Mitchell 22, Sangalang 18, Lee 16, Maliksi 11, Barroca 10, Jalalon 9, Simon 7, Javier 2, Reavis 2, Ramos 0.

Quarter scores: 27-26, 48-42, 77-65, 103-97.

– Rappler.com