SMB averts collapse, frustrates Meralco

Chris Ross hit timely baskets to bail out San Miguel and Ìžê³ Qºąžáó ÏĐĈ ĸąĉđ áóĉĉ courtesy of a 93-83 win in the 2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, Nov. 19.

Ross scored seven in the Beerèºêɭĉ Āïģóđžá ȰɢȪ ĸÊÏĈÌÏÊAE ÞÏÞ that slammed the door on the stubborn Bolts squad which battled back Äąóè žê ºžąáĩ Ȫȩɢāóïêđ ³ºĸïđɐ

Memories of SMB’S horrendous opening game loss against NLEX where it led by as many as 19 points «ėđ óáážāĉº³ Ïê đìº ºê³ ŞĈ̺³ «žÞ when the Beermen’s once 51-30 lead was trimmed down to single digits.

Fortunately, import Ivan Aska managed to stay away from foul đąóė«áº đó ̺áā Þººā qq žĹóžđɊ scoring 11 of his 27 points in the ĸêžá Äąžèº žê³ ģìºê Qºąžáó ėđ the lead down to single digits.

9đ ģžĉ ž ĸđđïêae «óėêº «žÞ ÄÓĄ the SMB import who was reduced to ž Ĉāºđžđóą Ïê đìº ĸêžá ĈÏĨ èïêėđºĉ of regulation and overtime in their 117-113 loss to the Road Warriors.

Aska also added 13 rebounds and two steals across his name. June Mar Fajardo chipped in a doubledouble of 17 points and 15 rebounds while CJ Perez had 16.

Ross wound up with 10 points to provide a huge lift for the Beerèºê ģìó êóđ캳 ĐÌºÏĄ ĸąĉđ ģïê in the conference despite missing the services of Jericho Cruz, Marcio Lassiter, and Jeron Teng.

It also didn’t help that Terrence Romeo exited the game in the second quarter due to a knee injury and Kyt Jimenez was forced to head back to the bench after receiving an elbow to the face from áïĵ 6ó³aeºɐ

Meralco came closest at four points, 81-85, with 2:14 left following back-to-back triples from Chris Newsome. The veteran and playing assistant coach for the team Ross then retaliated with a Āºąĉóêžá ȭɢȨ Ąėê ɡ ĸąĉđ ž «óóèing triple and cold-blooded free throws to restore order for the Beermen.

Newsome led Meralco with 22 points while import Su Braimoh ĈĐĄĖAEAEÁº³ óĵºêĉïģºáĩ ĸÊÏĈÌÏÊAE ģïđì 15 points along with 12 boards.

IVAN ASKA (right) comes up big for San Miguel with 27 points and 13 rebounds. (PBA Images)