Recovering SMB picks up road win vs Converge

San Miguel Beer continued bringing back players on the mend to its active roster while picking up a win away from the comforts of the metropolis on Saturday.

Jericho Cruz got ample playing time while Marcio Lassiter was hardly noticed in the Beermen’s 105-96 win over the struggling Converge FiberXers in Tiaong, Quezon province, to mark the first official out-of-town game of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in three years.

Cruz played 20 minutes and hardly showed the effects of a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined in the first two games of the Commissioner’s Cup against NLEX and Meralco. He provided the Beermen with his typical hard-nosed play.

Lassiter saw action for a total of 123 seconds after also being in street clothes in his team’s two previous matches to recover from a sprained ankle, The injury hiatus also helped the veteran shooter gain more time to recharge after the Hangzhou Asian Games.

Jeron Teng missed a second straight game with a hamstring problem while Terrence Romeo and rookie Kyt Jimenez were sidelined after sustaining injuries against Meralco.

Romeo complained of a sore knee while Jimenez suffered an orbital fracture after being elbowed by the Bolts’ Cliff Hodge.

To be determinedTheir timetables have yet to be determined, but San Miguel will continue to move toward having a complete roster to enhance its chances of competing for the championship of the Season 48’s initial salvo.

The Beermen kept the FiberXers winless after the contest at Tiaong Convention Center for a 2-1 (win-loss) record in the first conference. San Miguel hopes to improve on. that when it tests the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on Wednesday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City before going on a nine-day break.

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San Miguel saw an 18-point lead reduced to one after Converge got back behind the shooting of Aljun Melecio. The Beermen wasted a huge advantage in their season-opener and lost to the Road Warriors last Nov. 15 in Antipolo City.

June Mar Fajardo, however, lorded it over the paint late in the contest and San Miguel avoided a repeat of its Ynares Center meltdown.

Import Ivan Aska scored 28 points, leading San Miguel’s 24-12 first quarter start. But he once again dealt with foul trouble while CJ Perez had 24 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Melecio scored 17 points spiked by five triples but Converge dropped to 0-4. INQ