San Miguel Beer bounces back, keeps NorthPort winless

San Miguel Beer vented its ire on the struggling NorthPort camp, eking out a 145-132 victory to bounce back from a previous loss in the 2023 PBA Governors' Cup on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Beermen, who were fresh off a loss to Converge last Saturday, improved to 6-1 to forge a tie with league-leading TNT while the Batang Pier fell to 0-6 to remain as the only winless team in the tourney.

San Miguel led by as much as 18 points late in the third period with import Cameron Clark, CJ Perez, Marcio Lassiter, and June Mar Fajardo showing the way, but NorthPort continued to knock on their door.

Arvin Tolentino completed a three-point play at the 4:38 mark of the fourth to pull NorthPort to within five, 127-122, but San Miguel always had an answer with Lassiter knocking down a triple to cap off a 7-0 run for a 139-125 spread.

Robert Bolick, who was struggling offensively all game long, buried a triple, 139-128, but Fajardo and Clark nailed back-to-back baskets to put the icing on the cake for the Beermen.

Clark poured in 44 points alongside nine rebounds, seven assists, and one steal while Fajardo churned out a double-double outing of 29 markers, 12 boards, one steal, and one block.

Perez chipped in 24 points and five dimes while Lassiter finished with 16 markers on 4-of-5 from the rainbow country to help San Miguel regain its winning ways following a 107-103 loss at the hands of the FiberXers.

—MGP, GMA Integrated News