Cruz stars as SBM nears PBA Comm’s Cup crown
MANILA – Jericho Cruz waxed hot from the outside as the San Miguel Beermen cruised to a 10898 victory over Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots in Game 5 of the 2023- 24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Iloilo City native finished with a career- high of 30 points, including eight three- point conversions, to go with eight rebounds, four assists, and four steals as the Beermen took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven title series.
Bennie Boatwright Jr. added 21 points, June Mar Fajardo added a doubledouble of 18 points and 15 rebounds, while Simon Enciso a nd Celedonio Trollano contributed 15 and 10 markers, respectively, for the SMB.
The Beermen surged to a 9- 3 start on back- to- back triples by Enciso, but the Hotshots kept the match close at 16- 17 before Cruz unloaded eight straight points for a 28-18 SMB lead.
The Hotshots countered with a run in the second frame as they cut the deficit to 27-32 on conversions by Tyler Bey, but the Beermen got inside conversions from Fajardo and three- pointers from Enciso for a 48- 41 halftime lead.
Magnolia started strong in the third frame as they tied the score at 56- all but San Miguel Beer got baskets from Cruz, Boatwright, and Fajardo as they widened the lead to 76- 68 entering the final quarter.
The Beermen continued their run in the fourth quarter with a three-pointer from Trollano and two inside baskets from Boatwright for their largest lead at 82- 68, but the Hotshots countered with a huge run to cut the deficit to 96-99.
Cruz, however, converted a three-pointer to widen the Beermen’s lead to 102- 96 with 53 seconds left before Jaymar Perez sealed the win for SMB with back- to- back inside connections.
Bey finished with 34 points and eight rebounds, Jiovani Jalalon added 17 markers, while Ian Sangalang and Paul Lee chipped in 15 and 12 markers, respectively, for the Hotshots.
The Beermen can wrap up the championship title in Game 6 of the championship series on Valentines Day, February 14, still at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.