SMB dominates Ginebra on Lassiter’s historic night
The San Miguel Beermen never looked back after their fiery start to contain their lead until the very end against the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings, 131-82, on Sunday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
In the first quarter of play, Marcio Lassiter already made history by draining four triples that made him the all-time league leader in three-pointers made by tallying his 1,252nd career three. He surpassed Jimmy Alapag’s record of 1,250 when the Beermen raced to an early 37-13.
Lassiter finished with 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting from downtown to be awarded as the Best Player of the game and tallied a new three-point record of 1,254. The game ball used in the historic feat was awarded by Commissioner Willie Marcial during halftime. Lassiter was joined on center stage by his wife and five children.
SMB also made history as they recorded a franchise-high 49-point lead at the end of the game. The dominating win also gave them the ticket to the quarterfinals as they already reached six wins.
Eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo made another monstrous double-double performance to back up Lassiter. JMF scored 24 points, including a triple in the first quarter, and grabbed 17 rebounds.
CJ Perez added 22 markers, while Terrence Romeo, import Jordan Adams, and Don Trollano combined for 37 points in helping the team deal Barangay Ginebra its biggest losing margin in franchise history.
Rookie RJ Abbarientos led Ginebra in scoring with 19 points, and Justin Brownlee helped by producing 16 quiet points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.
The Gin Kings now have a 5-3 record, and their four-game win streak has come to an end already in a game where coach Tim Cone suffered his biggest losing margin as a PBA coach.
Ginebra’s next assignment will be Phoenix on September 18 at 7:30 PM at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, while the Beermen will face the Elasto Painters on September 19 at the same time at the same venue.
The scores:
SAN MIGUEL (131) -- Fajardo 24, Perez 22, Lassiter 18, Romeo 14, Adams 12, Trollano 11, Cruz 6, Jimenez 6, Manuel 6, Brondial 4, Ross 3, Rosales 3, Nava 2.
GINEBRA (82) -- Abarrientos 19, Brownlee 16, J.Aguilar 15, Thompson 13, Garcia 5, Pessumal 4, Mariano 4, Holt 3, R.Aguilar 2, Ahanmisi 1, Pinto 0, Adamos 0, Tenorio 0, Cu 0.
Quarter scores: 37-13; 66-31; 98-58; 131-82.
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