PBA News 2018: San Miguel Beermen smote the Talk ‘N Text KaTropa, 121-110, to steal Game 1 of their best-of-three showdown in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Quarterfinals this Monday at the Araneta Coliseum. Import Renaldo Balkman roared with 36 monstrous points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals, while June Mar Fajardo added 27 buckets and 13 boards.
Notes:
➤ San Miguel now leads 1-0 over TNT in the quarterfinals.
➤ Roger Pogoy consoled the losing KaTropa with 17 points. Reinforcement Joshua Smith meanwhile chipped-in 17 points and 8 rebounds. Veteran Fil-Am Kelly Williams also added 16 buckets – all on three point bombs.
➤ Reliable long-range sniper Marcio Lassiter also gave the Beermen 26 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
➤ The Beermen overcame a 23 point Talk ‘N Text lead, 23-46 in the second quarter.
➤ The quarterfinals game was controversial as Talk ‘N Text opted to protest the game which San Miguel won. Team Manager Virgil Villavicencio of TNT placed Game 1 under protest. No reasons were given yet as of press time.
Balkman 36, Fajardo 27, Lassiter 26, Santos 10, Ross 9, Cabagnot 6, Ganuelas-Rosser 4, Nabong 3, Heruela 0, Vigil 0.
Pogoy 17, Smith 17, Williams 16, Romeo 13, Semerad 11, Castro 10, Trollano 10, Rosario 9, Cruz 5, Taha 2, Golla 0, Garcia 0, Paredes 0, Carey 0, Reyes 0 Tamsi 0.
July 9, 2018 - Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
Written by Rock Punzalan for Philippine Basketball News Team