Patton Impresses in Debut as Beermen Cruise Past Black Knights

San Miguel Beer found its groove in the Season 50 Commissioner's Cup, propelled by the standout debut of new import Justin Patton in a dominant 110-94 victory over the winless Macau Black Knights on Tuesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The former NBA big man wasted no time making his mark, finishing with 24 points on 10-of-19 shooting, 17 rebounds, three steals, a block, and two assists. Patton’s impact on both ends of the floor helped the Beermen take control early and never look back.

Patton had already scored 18 points by halftime, leading San Miguel to a 62-51 lead. The Beermen tightened up defensively in the second half and executed key plays in the third quarter, extending their lead to improve to 2-2 in the standings. Meanwhile, Macau fell to 0-5, still searching for their first win of the midseason tournament.

“Clearly, he really wanted to play,” said San Miguel head coach Leo Austria. “We gave him time to adjust to the Philippine style of basketball, and he adapted to our system quickly. After yesterday's long practice, he was ready to run our plays right away.”

CJ Perez led all scorers with 26 points, five assists, and three rebounds, while June Mar Fajardo came close to a triple-double, contributing 16 points, 16 rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Marcio Lassiter chipped in 12 points, including two triples, and Don Trollano added 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists.

The win also marked the return of Jericho Cruz, who had been sidelined for nearly a month due to back spasms. “Of course, it's always better when the whole team is together,” Perez said, after earning Player of the Game honors. “When we’re united, our chances of winning are much greater.”

This victory was crucial for San Miguel as they now head into a challenging stretch against league leaders Ginebra, Rain or Shine, and Magnolia. Their first test comes this Easter Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum against the Kings.

“We were really worried going into this game,” Austria admitted. “At 1-2, we couldn’t afford another loss before the Holy Week break. This win gives us the confidence we need moving forward.”

Macau made a late push to cut a 25-point deficit to just eight early in the final quarter, thanks to Phoenix Shackelford’s efforts. However, San Miguel answered with key baskets from Cruz and Lassiter, followed by a 12-0 run led by Patton and Rodney Brondial, putting the game away at 105-85 with seven minutes left.

Tony Mitchell led Macau with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Damian Chongqui added 19 points, five rebounds, and seven assists. Ramon Cao also posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 boards. Bench players Chon Pong Lao (15 points) and Jenning Leung (11 points, nine rebounds) made solid contributions, but Macau's struggles continued under new head coach Marcus Elliott.

For San Miguel, this victory not only snapped their losing streak following a tough defeat to Bol Bol and TNT but also signaled a successful start to Patton’s integration into their campaign for the Commissioner’s Cup title.