DIAMOND Stone gave the explosive performance expected of him in giving San Miguel Beer the boost it needed in holding off Rain or Shine, 113-105, Sunday in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the PhilSports Arena.
June Mar Fajardo was his usual steady self and CJ Perez also came alive when the Beermen needed him to and provided ample help in the fourth period that enabled them to fully shake off the threat of the Elasto Painters.
Clearly, however, it was Stone who set the tone before eventually finishing with 42 points and 13 rebounds, a marked improvement from his 20-point, eight-rebound debut in a 106-109 loss to Blackwater in Wednesday of last week.
"I thought I've adjusted well. Coach (Leo Austria) did a great job this week after the first game of getting me adjusted, getting me the plays," said Stone, who shot 17-of 29 from the field.
"Coach told me before the game, in practice,' Don't be shy, be aggressive' and so that's what I did today," added the former NBA campaigner. "You know, try to be aggressive and try to go for the win."
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"In (his) first game, it was really hard for him because he's had no practice with the team, he doesn't know his team, he doesn't know our system and worse he doesn't know the kind of basketball we have here," piped in Austria.
"But I'm happy today with his game. It seems he realized na he needs to perform."
After contenting himself with being more of a facilitator in the first half Fajardo picked up his offense in the second half and finished with 21 points on top of eight rebounds and four assists with Perez adding 13 points, nine of those coming in the final canto.
Steve Taylor scored 20 points and also had game-highs of 18 boards and nine assists to lead Rain or Shine. But he went only 1-of-8 from the field in the second half as the E-Painters saw their two-game winning streak cut short and got dropped to an even 2-2 slate.
Rey Nambatac wound up with 19 points, Santi Santillan 15 and Gian Mamuyac 13. But all their efforts and those of Anton Asistio, Andrei Caracut and Jewel Ponferrada went down the drain when SMB went on an 11-0 tear that netted the recent Philippine Cup champions a 105-95 lead.
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Stone, Fajardo and Perez starred in that telling surge and the trio again saw to it the Beermen stayed comfortably ahead despite Mamuyac and Nambatac trying to keep the E-Painters in the fight. (NC)
The Scores:
San Miguel 113 - Stone 42, Fajardo 21, Perez 13, Herndon 8, Cruz 7, Manuel 7, Enciso 6, Lassiter 6, Ross 3, Tautuaa 0.
Rain or Shine 105 - Taylor Jr. 20, Nambatac 19, Santillan 15, Mamuyac 13, Caracut 11, Asistio 11, Ponferrada 10, Belga 3, Demusis 3, Norwood 0, Borboran 0.
Quarters: 29-24, 61-59, 85-85, 113-105.
