By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The San Miguel Beermen escaped a tough challenge from the Rain or Shine Elastopainters, 115-110, to bag its third consecutive victory in the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup last November 29, 2023, held at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Trailing by double digits midway through the second quarter, the Beermen found its shooting stroke in time to stun the Elastopainters in the remaining seven minutes of the period to equalize the ball game at 53-all heading into the second half.
Both teams then figured in an intense three-point shootout the whole second half with Marcio Lassiter coming alive for the Beermen while Gian Mamuyac delivered the goods for Rain or Shine.
Either of the squads weren’t able to take full control of the game’s tempo but the Beermen started to extend its lead to seven points, 98-91, after Lassiter erupted from downtown.
Mamuyac then answered the call for Rain or Shine after going unconscious from the field and single-handedly countered every Beermen basket in the final five minutes of the ball game.
With Rain or Shine trailing by three points, 106-103, in the final 1:57 of the game, Mamuyac drilled the equalizing trifecta that put the crowd on their feet.
Just when the Elastopainters thought they could sustain their firepower, Lassiter put the Beermen on top after answering with a cold-blooded trey that put San Miguel ahead again, 111-108, with only 46 seconds left.
Lassiter’s three-pointer then proved to be the dagger of the game as Rain or Shine only managed to score two more points during their next three offensive possessions.
Import Ivan Aska paced San Miguel with 28 big points alongside 12 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks.
Meanwhile, the money man, Lassiter, dropped 23 markers built from an efficient 8/13 shooting from the field.
