Early Lassiter explosion in record game fuels historic San Miguel rout of Ginebra

MANILA, Philippines – Marcio Lassiter set the tone in a game that turned out historic not just for him but the entire San Miguel franchise.

Lassiter caught fire early and clinched the PBA record for career three-pointers, steering the Beermen to an unprecedented 131-82 blowout of Barangay Ginebra in the Governors’ Cup at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, September 15.

Unloading four triples in the opening quarter, Lassiter eclipsed Jimmy Alapag for the No. 1 spot in the all-time PBA three-point list and finished with 18 points on a sizzling 6-of-8 clip from beyond the arc.

“I honestly did not think I was going to start this hot. I told myself to be aggressive. I did not think I was going to get it in the first quarter,” said Lassiter, who broke the previous mark of 1,250 triples set by Alapag in 2016.

“When you get one to fall, you kind of feel like the next one is going to fall. My teammates were looking for me.”

On fire from the get-go, Lassiter tied Alapag with a pair of treys in the first five minutes and nailed the record at the 7:11 mark, knocking down a pull-up jumper over the outstretched arms of Maverick Ahanmisi on a fast break.

Lassiter hit another one less than two minutes later that gave San Miguel a commanding 23-7 lead.

That scintillating start paved the way for the Beermen to cruise the rest of the way and post their biggest win margin in franchise history, according to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon.

“I think my record-breaker was like a heat check, I was just kind of in the moment, just an out-of-body experience,” said Lassiter, who sank two more in the second half to raise his tally to 1,254 three-pointers and counting.

“I was kind of happy to get it over with in the first quarter. I can really focus on the game because we had a big assignment tonight against Ginebra.”

June Mar Fajardo churned out 24 points and 17 rebounds, while CJ Perez put up 22 points and 6 assists for San Miguel, which won for the fourth straight game and hiked its record to 6-2 to claim the top spot in Group B.

Terrence Romeo added 14 points and import Jordan Adams chimed in 12 points and 11 rebounds in the eighth-most lopsided win in PBA history.

Finding no answers for an in-the-zone Beermen who shot 59% from the field and 57% from three-point land, the Gin Kings recorded their biggest losing margin in franchise history and saw their four-game winning streak halted.

It also ended up being the most lopsided loss for Ginebra tactician Tim Cone as a head coach — a small dent to his otherwise legendary credentials that include a record 25 championships.

Rookie RJ Abarrientos tallied 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, while import Justin Brownlee chalked up 16 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals for the Gin Kings, who fell to 5-3.

The Scores

San Miguel 131 – Fajardo 24, Perez 22, Lassiter 18, Romeo 14, Adams 12, Trollano 11, Cruz 6, Jimenez 6, Manuel 6, Brondial 4, Ross 3, Rosales 3, Nava 2.

Barangay Ginebra 82 – Abarrientos 19, Brownlee 16, J.Aguilar 15, Thompson 13, Garcia 5, Pessumal 4, Mariano 4, Holt 3, R.Aguilar 2, Ahanmisi 1, Pinto 0, Adamos 0, Tenorio 0, Cu 0.

Quarters: 37-13, 66-31, 98-58, 131-82.

– Rappler.com