San Miguel clinches PBA playoff berth with another rout of Titan Ultra

ANTIPOLO — San Miguel rolled to its third straight win in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup after completing a group-phase sweep of Titan Ultra by way of another 144-113 rout at the Ynares Center here, Wednesday evening.

The Beermen broke away with a 38-point eruption in the second quarter to take a 64-50 lead and never relented, pounding a Giant Risers side that played dejectedly after losing rookie guard Bryan Sajonia in the third quarter.

Sajonia suffered an apparent left knee injury at the 8:51-mark of the said period in the same spot where DeQuan Jones fractured his right leg, leaving the neophyte ball club a man short while their foes continued their romp.

(C) PBA Images

In actuality, Titan Ultra was already without star guard Joshua Munzon, who was sidelined by the flu, although it was unlikely that the team could have stood up to the traditional powerhouse even with a complete and healthy lineup at its disposal.

“I’m so grateful that the players responded well to my return to the team. We’re playing well,” said head coach Leo Austria, who has gone 3-0 since returning to his post full-time after recovering from an angioplasty before the conference.

George King led the way with 39 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists to lead SMB, which is now assured of a playoff spot after improving to 7-2 in Group A, where it remains at No. 2 behind 7-1 NLEX.

Don Trollano bucked a slow start and finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, while Marcio Lassiter supplied 15 points, highlighted by two triples.

Rodney Brondial notched a double-double of 13 points and 17 rebounds to earn Player of the Game honors, while Jerrick Ahanmisi chipped in 12 as the quintet comprised the balanced attack with June Mar Fajardo getting more rest.

The nine-time MVP scored just six points, although it moved him just 44 points away from becoming the 18th member of the PBA’s elite 10,000-point club.

The Beermen won’t play until October 10 against TNT in the same venue as the league takes a break to give way to Gilas Pilipinas’ international campaigns.

“The bench is performing really well and then almost balanced scoring,” said Austria. “We had 34 assists … rebounds 69 so I think it’s a great sign of the players really wanting to win, especially going to the break.

“But we should not be complacent because come playoff time, it’s a different ballgame,” warned the 11-time champion bench tactician.

(C) PBA Images

Leading the Giant Risers in the loss was Tirrell Brown with 34 points alongside 13 rebounds and six assists, but his efforts went in vain as they fell to 2-7.

The Scores:

San Miguel 144 – King 39, Trollano 21, Lassiter 15, Brondial 13, Ahanmisi 12, Teng 9, Fajardo 6, Cruz 6, Tautuaa 6, Hernandez 6, Mantua 4, Calma 4, Cahilig 3, Ross 0.

Titan Ultra 113 – Brown 34, Yu, 11, Amores 11, Balanza 10, Javillonar 9, Pessumal 9, Dionisio 8, Caralipio 5, Sumang 4, Ular 4, Sajonia 4.

Quarterscores: 26-27; 64-50; 99-78; 144-113.

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