BENNIE Boatwright gave a clearer view of what he is truly capable of once fully settled and San Miguel Beer is so much better because of it.
Boatwright sizzled for 51 points in leading the Beermen to a fourth straight win via a 132-110 thrashing of Terrafirma Sunday in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The former USC Trojan shot 19-of-31 from the field, including 7-of-13 from beyond the arc, almost doubling his 26-point output in his debut game on Christmas Day when he went 9-of-26 and 3-of-12.
With Don Trollano leading the locals in providing support, SMB had little trouble jacking its record to 7-3, a slate it would further improve on should it prevail over Blackwater on Friday to close out their elimination round schedule.
Should the Beermen win over the Bossing as expected, they would have a lock on one of the top four spots that carry with it a twice-to-beat advantage in the ensuing quarterfinals.
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"Just give all the credit to the coaches and my teammates, they were looking for me today," said Boatwright, who also had 12 rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots before being sent to the bench for good with still 2:55 left and SMB comfortably ahead, 124-106.
The loss was Terrafirma's seventh straight, dropping it to a 2-8 card with a last game against Meralco set also on Friday.
After going scoreless in their last game Javi Gomez de Liano bounced back big-time with 26 points while Thomas de Thaey wound up with 17 points and as many rebounds and Stephen Holt 13 points.
The firepower SMB brought was simply too much, however, with Trollano finishing with 22 points, CJ Perez and Mo Tautaa 16 each and Terrence Romeo 12 points and seven dimes. Playing assistant coach Chris Ross only one point but successfully dished 10 times.
Most of those dimes went to Boatwright, who already had 23 points in the opening quarter and 34 at the half, both the most by any player this season, as the Beermen took control on the second frame before breaking the game open in the third period.
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The difference got stretched to as much as 93-72 before SMB easily shrugged off each mini-rally the Dyip could muster. (NC)
The Scores:
SAN MIGUEL 132 - Boatwright 51, Trollano 22, Tautuaa 16, Perez 16, Romeo 12, Lassiter 6, Cruz 6, Brondial 2, Ross 1, Teng 0.
TERRAFIRMA 110- Gomez de Liano 26, De Thaey 17, Tiongson 17, Holt 13, Camson 11, Sangalang 6, Cahilig 6, Carino 6, Miller 4, Alolino 4, Go 0, Ramos 0.
QUARTERS: 33-30, 67-60, 103-91, 132-110
