Saudi Gazette MANILA — Import Tyler Wilkerson and Marcio Lassiter came out with their long-range guns all ablaze, leading the San Miguel Beermen to a 117-98 drubbing of sister team Star Hotshots in the PBA Commissioner's Cup Sunday night. What made the victory even more remarkable was that SMB pulled it off despite missing the services of three key players—June Mar Fajardo, Arwind Santos and Ronald Tubid. Fajardo and Tubid are both nursing injuries while Santos had to be with his family following the death of his mother. Wilkerson poured 44 points, including eight three-pointers, on top of 17 rebounds while Lassiter banged in 25 markers, including six triples. It was SMB's second straight win and fifth overall in seven outings as the Beermen tied up the idle Alaska Aces at second to third place in the team standings, just half a game behind the leading Meralco Bolts (6-2). The loss snapped Star's three-game winning streak as the Hotshots fell back to seventh place with a 4-5 win-loss card. Chris Ross also played splendidly for SMB, finishing with a near triple double of 11 points, 10 assists and nine boards. Alex Cabagnot added 13 markers off the bench. The score was close in the first half as the two teams traded baskets. But coming out of the halftime break, the Beermen suddenly blew the game wide open as Lassiter and Wilkerson began raining down three-pointers. Lassiter drilled five three-pointers in the third quarter while Wilkerson scored 16 of his total point production in the fourth quarter, capped by a three-pointer that gave the Beermen their biggest lead at 107-85. Star was led by its import Ricardo Ratliffe, who finished with 33 points and 21 rebounds. James Yap caught fire early in the game, scoring 15 of his 17 points in the first quarter. However, Yap failed to finish the game after limping out with an injury in the second half. NLEX 88, Blackwater 75 NLEX used a crippling defense to get back on the winning track, beating Blackwater, 88-75. The extra-tight defense led to a string of miscues by the Elite, which the Road Warriors translated to easy baskets, en route to their fourth win in eight games. Blackwater absorbed its third straight defeat to fall to 3-6. Forty-three year-old center Asi Taulava, still playing with youthful vigor, paced NLEX with 22 points, 15 boards, four assists, and two blocks. Import Al Thornton also finished with 22 points while Sean Anthony added 15 markers. Rookie Art dela Cruz led the Elite with 16 points and 12 boards in 27 minutes off the bench. Games Wednesday: Phoenix Fuel Masters vs. Blackwater Elite and Barangay Ginebra Kings vs. Tropang TNT.
