Chapman, Hotshots pummel import-less Beermen

MANILA, Philippines -- Clint Chapman took advantage of an import-less opposition as the Magnolia Hotshots blasted the San Miguel Beermen, 120-101, in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup clash Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

Chapman feasted for Magnolia with 34 points, six rebounds, three blocks and two assists on an efficient 10-of-14 shooting as he dominated the Justin Patton-less Beermen. 

“Well, you gotta give San Miguel credit for playing without an import. I think they might play nearly as good without an import as they do with,” Chapman said after the game. 

“They obviously played hard tonight, but we had to find the advantage and I know I needed to be that advantage,” he added. 

San Miguel was able to keep in step with their opponents through early in the third, trailing by a respectable five points, 56-61, at the 9:36 mark of the frame. 

But a 23-4 run capped by a Chapman triple broke the game wide open, 84-60, with 4:24 remaining in the period. 

Marcio Lassiter snapped the run, but Paul Lee answered back with a 4-pointer to push the lead to 26, 88-62. 

San Miguel, then, played catch-up the rest of the contest. They were able to inch closer to just 16, 95-111, with 1:41 remaining, but it came a little too late. 

The Beermen played without Patton, who scored just 12 points last time around against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in his eventual last game in a San Miguel jersey. 

A "very frustrated" San Miguel head coach Leo Austria said they knew that the "very unprofessional" Patton will not be suiting up an hour before the game. 

Austria stressed that it is always very difficult to match up with teams without an import, as they "really do not have a matchup" against Chapman.

The two teams are holding identical 3-4 win-loss records.