MANILA — Chris Standhardinger of San Miguel Beermen finally arrived in the PBA. The Meralco Bolts, however, had other plans.
The Bolts shut down the Beermen down the stretch to take a 93-85 win in the main game of the Commissioner’s Cup doubleheader at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Wednesday night.
It was a battle of quarter-long dominance as both clubs took control for the most part of each frame, but it was Meralco that reigned in the quarter that matters the most, outscoring SMB, 28-17, in the fourth period to seal the win.
Baser Amer went 5-of-6 from beyond the arc and finished with 28 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and one steal for Meralco.
Chris Newsome added 23 points, seven rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block.
Arinze Onuaku flirted with a triple-double after tallying 13 markers, 12 rebounds, and eight assists along with two blocks and two steals.
Standhardinger was somehow silent in his much-awaited debut in the top-flight domestic league, only making four points on 2-of-5 shooting. He, however, also had five rebounds, two assists, and two steals in almost 20 minutes of play off the bench.
Troy Gillenwater, despite leading SMB in scoring, struggled in his PBA debut, only making 6-of-19 shots for 19 points alongside 14 rebounds, two assists, and one block.
Alex Cabagnot also came close to a triple-double, making 16 markers, nine boards, and seven dimes with two swipes.
The scores:
MERALCO 93 – Amer 28, Newsome 23, Dillinger 14, Onuaku 13, Hodge 5, Caram 5, Tolomia 2, Baracael 2, Canaleta 1, Bono 0, Hugnatan 0.
SAN MIGUEL 85 – Gillenwater 19, Cabagnot 16, Fajardo 16, Lassiter 15, Santos 10, Standhardinger 4, Heruela 3, Ross 2, Pessumal 0, Rosser 0.
Quarterscores: 23-24, 46-41, 65-68, 93-85. (Ivan Stewart Saldajeno/PNA)
