Marcio Lassiter spearheaded the San Miguel Beermen’s comeback to secure a 107-104 victory over the Phoenix Fuel Masters in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Tuesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
Lassiter tallied 15 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, along with three rebounds and three assists, as the Beermen began their title-retention campaign with a hard-fought win.
Down by as many as 16 points at 71-87 early in the fourth quarter, the Beermen slowly clawed their way back behind outside conversions from Andreas Cahilig and Juan Miguel Tiongson before taking a 101-98 lead on a Lassiter triple.
The Fuel Masters responded with back-to-back baskets from Tyler Tio to take a 102-101 lead, but the Beermen responded with a basket from Quincy Miller for a 103-102 edge before Phoenix took the lead for the last time at 104-103 on a Tio layup.
The Beermen notched the lead at 105-104 on a 15-foot jumper from Lassiter with four seconds remaining in the game. After a turnover by the Fuel Masters, Simon Enciso sealed the win for SMB with two free throws.
Perez top-scored for the Beermen with 18 points, Miller and Celedonio Trollano added 14 markers apiece, while Cahilig contributed 12 points in his first game with his new team.
“It is our transition defense that we have to get better at,” rued Beermen head coach Jorge Gallent. “Sometimes we are just too eager to shoot our shots, and that’s the time our opponents are making runs.”
Donovan Smith tallied a double double of 37 points and 15 rebounds, while Tio and Jason Perkins added 23 and 21 points, respectively, as the Fuel Masters dropped to a 0-3 record.
The post Marcio Lassiter steps up in 4th as SMB turns back Phoenix first appeared on Fastbreak.
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