Beermen boot out Dyip, complete quarters cast

San Miguel Beer slammed the door on Terrafirma’s playoff hopes, rolling to a dominant 126-110 victory to finalize the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinal cast on Wednesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Beermen overcame an early hiccup after import Bennie Boatwright was saddled with foul trouble just minutes into the contest, turning instead to their seasoned all-Filipino core to steady the ship. That adjustment proved decisive, as San Miguel seized control late in the opening quarter before breaking the game wide open in the succeeding periods to secure back-to-back wins.

The result lifted San Miguel to a 6-5 record, tightening the already crowded race in the lower half of the Top Eight. The Beermen now find themselves locked in a four-way tie with Magnolia, Phoenix, and defending champion TNT, setting up a high-stakes finish to the eliminations.

With two playdates left, San Miguel faces a crucial showdown against Phoenix on May 9—a game that could significantly impact playoff positioning.

Head coach Leo Austria emphasized the urgency of their latest win, especially against a Terrafirma side that was still in the hunt for a quarterfinal berth.

Despite his early foul woes, Boatwright still delivered a stellar all-around performance, finishing with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, along with a steal and a block. The prolific import showed no signs of fatigue even after a demanding day that included attending proceedings for his naturalization.

June Mar Fajardo anchored the local charge with a conference-best 30 points on top of 16 rebounds and four assists, earning Player of the Game honors. Don Trollano and Jericho Cruz added 17 points each, while CJ Perez chipped in 15 to round out San Miguel’s balanced attack.

On the other side, Terrafirma bowed out of contention with a 4-7 slate, unable to sustain the momentum of its early three-game winning streak. Mubashar Ali paced the Dyip with 28 points and eight rebounds, while Jerrick Ahanmisi scored 24 despite a heavy shooting load. Rookie big man Geo Chiu registered a double-double with 12 points and 16 rebounds, and JM Bravo contributed 14.

Terrafirma will wrap up its campaign against Meralco on Friday, facing a Bolts squad eager to secure a Top Four finish heading into the playoffs.