MANILA, Philippines – San Miguel import Jordan Adams pounced on a hapless Blackwater side that played without a reinforcement.
Adams erupted for 50 points as the Beermen completed a come-from-behind 128-108 romp of the Bossing to stay perfect in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, August 28.
Going 6-of-10 from beyond the arc, Adams fired 18 points in the decisive third quarter as San Miguel overcame a double-digit deficit to turn back a Blackwater crew that still competed even after parting ways with Ricky Ledo.
“We have a great team. There is a lot of guys to worry about so I was able to find my shots within the offense,” said Adams, who also finished with 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals.
“It makes the job easier for me. Everybody can score, everybody can shoot in this team. When we’re playing unselfish and good defense, that is the path we want to be on.”
The Bossing gave Ledo the pink slip after the former NBA player failed to live up to expectations, averaging 9 points on a dismal 15.8% shooting with 8.5 rebounds in his first two games with the team, which both ended in losses.
But Blackwater got off to a promising start despite parading an all-Filipino lineup, even enjoying a lead as big as 63-53 late in the first half.
That cushion, however, vanished as Adams and CJ Perez spearheaded a blazing third quarter that saw the Beermen outscore the Bossing, 38-20, for a 94-83 lead.
Perez scattered 11 of his 14 points in the period.
“We were selfish in the first half. We were not rotating the ball and we were giving them easy shots,” said San Miguel head coach Jorge Gallent.
“When it came to the second half, I just told them just to relax and play our usual game and we will be okay. We just turned the defense on in the second half.”
June Mar Fajardo added 13 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks, Jericho Cruz tallied 12 points and 6 assists, while Kris Rosales and Vic Manuel chimed in 10 points apiece as the Beermen improve to 2-0 in Group B.
Troy Rosario put up 25 points and 6 rebounds for Blackwater, which stayed winless in three games, finding no reprieve in a rough week that also included a pair of blowout losses to Rain or Shine and NLEX.
Second overall pick Sedrick Barefield posted 16 points and 5 assists in the loss.
The Scores
San Miguel 128 – Adams 50, Perez 14, Fajardo 13, Cruz 12, Rosales 10, Manuel 10, Trollano 8, Teng 8, Ross 3, Brondial 0, Nava 0, Tautuaa 0, Jimenez 0
Blackwater 108 – Rosario 25, Barefield 16, Kwekuteye 11, Ponferrada 11, David 10, Mitchell 9, Chua 7, Hill 4, Suerte 3, Guinto 2, Corteza 2, Tungcab 0, Jopia
Quarters: 31-31, 56-63, 94-83, 128-108.
– Rappler.com