PBA: Balanced San Miguel Beer opens with win over Rain or Shine

Arwind Santos showcased stellar form for the Beermen. KC Cruz

Arwind Santos scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead a balanced offensive attack that gave San Miguel Beer an 87-79 victory over Rain or Shine on Tuesday in the 2015 Philippine Cup at SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

 

Reigning Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo added 16 points and nine rebounds for the Beermen, while wingmen Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz added 13 and 11 points, respectively.

 

The result gave new coach Leo Austria a victory in his first game at the helm of the Beermen in the PBA. Austria, who also had previous coaching stints at Shell and Welcoat, previously led a team carrying the San Miguel Beer brand to a title in the ASEAN Basketball League.

 

"This will be a great motivation for me and for the team. Everybody is trying to do well, especially yung mga beterano namin, because we've been criticized because they've been expecting a lot for this team," said Austria, who revealed that he has overhauled the team's strategy when he took over the squad.

 

"Different system, ibang-iba ito, this is my own system. Yung dating sistema inalis na namin."

 

San Miguel pounced on a Rain or Shine squad that saw just five minutes of action from Gilas stalwart Paul Lee and missed another national player Gabe Norwood.

 

Second-year center Raymond Almazan carried the fight for Rain or Shine, finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds. — JST, GMA News

 

The scores:

 

SAN MIGUEL BEER 87 - Fajardo 16, Santos 16, Lassiter 13, Lutz 11, Hubalde 7, Kramer 7, Tubid 6, Mercado 4, Ross 3, Omolon 2, Chua 2, Maierhofer 0, Pascual 0.

 

RAIN OR SHINE 79 - Almazan 12, Chan 11, Cruz Jervy 11, Uyloan 9, Arana 9, Quinahan 7, Belga 6, Ibanes 4, Lee 3, Cruz Jericho 3, Tang 3, Teng 1, Norwood 0, Tiu 0.

 

Quarters: 28-18, 49-37, 66-58, 87-79