SMB jolts Meralco: A Boone to mighty Beermen

MANILA, Philippines - Josh Boone put in a determined effort though knowing he would lose his job soon, producing 16 points and the same number of rebounds as San Miguel Beer ripped Meralco, 94-76, to start its campaign in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

The Beermen cut loose from a seesawing game in the second quarter and roared on in the final half for a triumphant start back in their fabled San Miguel Beer uniform.

Boone was a big help especially as Junmar Fajardo sat out the game due to a sprained left ankle. Even then, there’s no certainty in Boone’s status after their game with Barangay Ginebra tomorrow since his prospective replacement in Kevin Jones is set to arrive tonight.

Jones was a 2012 US NCAA Consensus All-American who had a brief stint as a Cleveland Cavalier in the NBA later in  2012. He’s coming in fresh from a tenure with the Canton Charge in the NBA D-League.

His papers, however, apparently wouldn’t be ready yet for tomorrow’s game against Ginebra.

“I would like to commend Josh Boone. He knew he would be replaced, but still he played very hard. We appreciate his professionalism,” said new San Miguel coach Biboy Ravanes.

“We need this win as we’re building our confidence after the shift from Petron to San Miguel Beer,” Ravanes also said. “There’s a lot of expectation. There’s a lot on the guys’ shoulders. But we told them to just play their game.”

Boone played his game, bucking early fouls as he went 7-of-17 from the field and 2-of-5 from the stripe to help San Miguel through.

Arwind Santos also logged 16 points while Doug Kramer and Marcio Lassiter added 14 and 12, respectively, for the Beermen who dominated the Bolts in the last three quarters, thrice enjoying a 20-point spread with the last at 83-63.

“Obviously, I’m happy to win. It’s our first game in the tournament and we’re trying to create chemistry. The guys played very hard and I’m very happy with their effort,” said Todd Purves, the San Miguel coaching consultant working closely with Ravanes.

Purves said Fajardo is day-to-day and is still doubtful for a much-anticipated clash with Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar tomorrow.

The Beermen hardly missed the Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference winner against the injury-hit Meralco side.

Minus chief playmaker Mike Cortez, the Bolts were terribly beaten on the assist department, 8-27.

“That’s what we want the guys to do – be relentless on defense and pass the ball on offense,” said Ravanes.

Meanwhile, Talk n Text and Air21 fight for the early solo lead as they clash in a Petron Blaze Saturday Special at the Cuneta Astrodome today.

The Express and the Texters both go for win No. 2 in their 5:45 p.m. tussle after winning their initial outing versus the Globalport Batang Pier and the Alaska Milk Aces, respectively, Wednesday.

Barangay Ginebra erased a five-point deficit in the last 75 seconds in regulation play and outlasted Barako Bull, 108-104, in overtime in the nightcap.

Leon Rodgers scored eight of his 31 points in the extra period, and Ginebra overcame Joshua Dollard’s season-high 45-point explosion as the Kings pulled through in their first game after losing their deciding match with the San Mig Coffee Mixers in the Philippine Cup semifinals.

Much focus could well be on the import matchup between Air21’s Herve Lamizana and Talk n Text’s Richard Howell.

Lamizana picked up his game after the halftime break, pouring in all but two of his 22 points in the second half as the Express turned back the Globalport Batang Pier, 83-78.

Howell, on the other hand, dominated the boards, snaring a season-high 30 rebounds that went with 15 points as the Texters clobbered the defending champions Alaska Milk Aces, 85-72.

NOTES: Rain or Shine has reactivated guard Jonathan Uyloan and put on the reserve list big man JR Quinahan.

The scores:

First Game

San Miguel Beer 94 - Boone 16, Santos 16, Kramer 14, Lassiter 12, Mercado 8, Tubid 7, Duncil 6, Lutz 6, Hubalde 4, Ross 4, Maierhofer 1, Taha 0.

Meralco 76 - Butch 29, David 20, Hugnatan 8, Hodge 7, Wilson 5, Al-Hussaini 4, Caram 2, Artadi 1, Ildefonso 0, Salvacion 0, Guevarra 0, Dillinger 0.

Quarterscores: 20-20, 40-29, 69-52, 94-76

Second Game

GINEBRA 108 – Rodgers 31, Ellis 17, Aguilar 14, Slaughter 12, Caguioa 12, Tenorio 9, Reyes 8, Mamaril 3, Urbiztondo 2, Baracael 0, Monfort 0.

BARAKO 104 – Dollard 45, Pennisi 12, Lastimosa 10, Intal 7, Miranda 7, Wilson 6, Buenafe 6, Jensen 5, Fortuna 5, Pena 1, Deutchman 0, Isip 0, Miller 0, Marcelo 0.

Quarterscores: 22-23, 51-52, 73-70, 93-93, 108-104