By REYNALD MAGALLON
San Miguel reminded everyone that there’s more to its team outside June Mar Fajardo.
With the seven-time MVP not having the same dominant night like in the past two games, Marcio Lassiter, CJ Perez and Don Trollano took on the scoring cudgels to help Beermen fend off the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 117-107 and seize a commanding 3-0 lead in Game 3 of their best-of-seven semifinals series in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday, May 22.
The trio all breached 20-point mark in scoring to help SMB reassert its mastery over Rain or Shine which it now beaten for the 10th straight contest over the last three years before a sellout crowd at the Dasmarinas City Arena in Cavite City.
Perez decided to take the lead role for SMB after only providing a complement to Fajardo’s dominance in the first two games, pouring a double-double of 23 points and 14 rebounds.
Lassiter, who was chasing the all-time three-point record backstopped Perez with 21 points, built on five triples – none bigger than the back-breaking triple from the left wing that gave SMB a seven-point cushion, 112-105, with 42 seconds left.
Don Trollano found the perfect time to boost the Beermen off the bench with own double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds at a time when Fajardo could only muster 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Chris Ross also had 12 on four conversions from deep while Terrence Romeo had 13 points although he got the ire from ROS head coach Yeng Guiao after nailing a triple in the waning seconds when the contest was already over and settled.
SMB can close out the series on Friday, May 24 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Like in the past two games, ROS did put its best foot forward and actually even stayed within striking distance all throughout the contest behind its stellar shooting from deep.
However, even with the 18 triples the Elasto Painters made, the Beermen still managed to keep their head above the water thanks to their super firepower. SMB led by as many as 11 points in the second half although ROS battled back and came closest at four, 109-105, with 1:30 left.
That was exactly when Lassiter drilled the trey that proved to be the dagger to ROS hearts.
Beau Belga led the balance scoring for ROS with 19 points built on his six triples while Adrian Nocum, Jhonard Clarito and Keith Datu all finished with 14 each.
The Elasto Painters, however, will need more than that if they wish to overcome the huge series deficit – a feat that no one had ever achieved in PBA history other than the Beermen.
