San Miguel Beer diffuses Meralco in triumphant return

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 Friday 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 Saturday night.

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 Sunday'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 Sunday.

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.

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.