NorthPort's Arwind Santos is now a member of PBA's 10,000 Points Club. (Photo courtesy of PBA Image)
MANILA – San Miguel broke loose in the fourth quarter to clip NorthPort, 122-106, in their Philippine Cup battle on Saturday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The Beermen spoiled Arwind Santos' formal entry to the elite 10,000 Points Club as they clobbered the Batang Pier in the endgame after a close encounter in the first 36 minutes of the game.
Needing only 13 points to break the 10,000-point barrier, Santos scored on a jumper with 11:24 left in the third quarter, his 14th in the contest, to become only the 17th member of the elite scoring group and the only one among the active players this PBA Philippine Cup.
However, SMB still had the last laugh after outscoring NorthPort, 40-24, in the final period to pull away for good.
June Mar Fajardo and Robbie Herndon each scored 21 points to lead the Beermen, who are once again solo first placers in the team standings at 6-1.
CJ Perez, who got his first career triple-double in their last game against the Converge FiberXers last week, came close to another one with 17 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds with one steal.
Santos finished with 25 points, seven rebounds, three assists, five blocks, and two steals for the Batang Pier, who absorbed their fifth straight loss after going 2-0 to start the conference.
In the nightcap, Magnolia sizzled in the third quarter to give Calvin Abueva something to cheer about in his return to play, an 87-73 win against NLEX.
Down 32-46 at the half, the Hotshots exploded for 33 points in the third canto, more than all they scored in the first half, while holding the Road Warriors to just 12 points to go up, 65-58, entering the fourth quarter.
Magnolia turned it into a blowout after a 22-15 fourth quarter.
Mark Barroca made 18 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals to lead the Hotshots, who tied their victims at 4-3 with their third straight win.
Jio Jalalon added 16 points, six rebounds, nine assists, and three steals.
Abueva came off the bench in his first game back after serving a one-game suspension last week against the Phoenix Fuel Masters, tallying eight points, five rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block.
JR Quinahan put up 17 points, two rebounds, one block, and one steal off the bench to lead the Road Warriors. (PNA)
